Cop resigns after tossing food at handcuffed homeless man

SARASOTA, Fla. — A Florida police officer caught on video tossing food to a suspect at the Sarasota County jail resigned Tuesday.

Officer Andrew Halpin announced his resignation just moments before his scheduled interview with internal affairs investigators regarding the jail incident.

"I hereby resign for personal reasons effective immediately," Halpin wrote in a letter.

Halpin joined the Sarasota Police Department on Nov. 1, 2006.

Chief Bernadette DiPino was made aware of a video involving Halpin on July 27 and she said she was deeply disappointed by what she saw. After watching the video, DiPino ordered an internal affairs investigation and put Halpin on administrative leave.

The video, which was provided to the Sarasota Police Department by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, shows Halpin tossing food at a handcuffed man's mouth. The man, an intoxicated homeless man who had been arrested on a trespassing charge July 18, then tries to pick the food up off the floor while Halpin pushes the it toward him with his foot.

Contributing: The Associated Press