A newly released bodycam video from the University of Central Florida has sparked a heated online debate after capturing a tense confrontation between campus police and transgender student Jarrett Preston Vick.

Keep reading to learn more.

The incident reportedly began in 2025, when UCF police responded to a report involving a possible vehicle theft. Jarrett Preston Vick was not accused of stealing the vehicle but became involved in the interaction. The situation escalated after officers referred to Vick using male pronouns, prompting repeated objections.

In the footage, Vick can be heard asking officers to use she/her pronouns and expressing distress over being misgendered. A university employee identified as Josh also appears to try to calm the situation as the exchange becomes increasingly heated. At one point, an officer warned Vick that she could be handcuffed and taken for evaluation under Florida’s Baker Act if she did not lower her voice.

The confrontation eventually escalated further, with officers detaining and handcuffing Vick. According to court records, she was later charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer without violence, and disorderly conduct. Vick pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case remains ongoing.

Bodycam shows UCF student repeatedly screaming “Don’t say him! Say she!” during a stolen vehicle investigation—then getting pepper-sprayed and arrested.

Jarrett Preston Vick faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting without violence, and disorderly conduct…

— NewsForce (@Newsforce) July 19, 2026

The bodycam footage quickly divided viewers. Some criticized the officers for repeatedly using male pronouns despite Vick’s objections, arguing that doing so contributed to the escalation.

Some people thought the entire situation was escalated for no reason. One person wrote, “How can people sit behind their screens calling an innocent person disgusting names when she was falsely arrested, misgendered by cops, pepper sprayed, tased” while another wrote, “That is absolute insanity.”

Others said that, regardless of the pronoun dispute, Vick’s behavior toward police was inappropriate and that the situation demonstrated the importance of remaining calm during encounters with law enforcement.

The controversy has also renewed discussion about the psychological impact of misgendering. LGBTQ+ advocates and mental health experts have warned that repeatedly using incorrect names or pronouns can contribute to distress, anxiety, and feelings of rejection among transgender people. At the same time, critics of the incident argue that respecting someone’s identity does not excuse aggressive or disorderly behavior.

For now, Vick remains out of custody on bond while awaiting further proceedings in Orange County, Florida.

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