UCF Police Arrest of Transgender Student Vick Sparks Controversy Over Body-Camera Footage

In February 2025, campus police at the University of Central Florida (UCF) arrested a transgender student, identified by the legal surname Vick, on charges of battery of a law-enforcement officer, resisting arrest without violence, and disorderly conduct. Body-camera footage later released by the YouTube channel Inside The Blue TV shows Vick repeatedly demanding that officers stop misgendering her, refusing to place her hands behind her back, and being tased and pepper-sprayed before being taken into custody.

The Advocate

The footage emerged during the discovery phase of Vick’s case and was posted online after the student completed a pre-trial diversion program. Although the State Attorney in Orange County ultimately dropped all charges, the arrest record remains public. The release of the video prompted amplification by conservative media figures, who highlighted a segment in which Vick shouts “stop misgendering me.”

The Advocate

Officer Riley’s account states he warned Vick that failure to lower her voice would result in handcuffs and possible transport to a Baker Act facility, a Florida law for mental-health detention. Riley later indicated he used pepper spray and a taser after Vick allegedly attempted to strike an officer and resisted restraint. Attorneys for Vick declined to comment, and the student has not issued a public statement.

The Advocate

The reporting notes that right-wing influencers and media have seized on the newly released footage to attack the mental health of transgender people. The video’s circulation has been cited as part of broader anti-trans online campaigns, raising concerns about how law-enforcement encounters are portrayed and used in political discourse.

The Advocate

• “Okay her. I’m gonna spray her.” — Vick — Vick

The Advocate