Joe Yates
Disturbing footage has been released of the moment that led to a little boy needing brain surgery.
Gerard Butler was riding his new dirt bike, which he had only recently received for his eighth birthday, when a police cruiser turned around the corner and knocked him over on Monday (October 28).
The incident took place at around 6.30pm in Sarasota, a city located to the south of the Greater Tampa Bay area in Florida, and has led to a public outcry with residents alleging the officer was driving over the speed limit.
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In response, Sarasota State Police has released shocking bodycam footage showing the moment one of its officers hits the young boy, before climbing out of his car and rushing over to see if he is OK.
In the video, the cop can be seen radioing the accident in, saying: "Thirty-six dispatch, I’m going back to my signal eight."
He then runs over to Gerard and asks him: "Baby are you OK?" As he checks the boy's pulse.
With Gerard not responding he begins giving chest compressions before leaving the boy in the assistance of others as he runs off to find an AED (automated external defibrillator).
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche has since spoken out about what allegedly happened.
In a statement, he said: “The officer was leaving the scene of a separate call for service when the child entered the intersection in front of the officer’s vehicle.”
Troche added: “We cannot imagine how difficult this is for his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
The Police Chief went on to say that they are working with the Florida Highway Patrol to investigate the crash.
Gerard's mom, Regina Sanders, spoke to local TV station 10 Tampa Bay and explained that her son is in hospital undergoing treatment and has had two brain surgeries, as well as surgery on his knee and jaw.
She said: "I'm trying to be the supporting mom and I talk to him even though his eyes are closed, I talk to him everyday he's here and just let him know mama's here.
"Today he coughed, he coughed two times that's something the doctors said to us is a sign."
"He hit my child on 23rd and my child flew to 22nd street. The cops are always speeding down the road - when they hit the speed bumps, their cars go up in the air," she said, before adding: "Everybody's praying for Gerard, they know what type of person he is so he's gonna be great. Once I get him better, I'll handle the rest."
UNILAD has contacted Sarasota State Police for further comment.