Bodycam footage which has gone viral on social media shows US police officer Jesse Hernandez screaming “I’m hit” and firing at his own car, where a suspect was being detained, after a sudden noise made by an acorn landing on top of the car.

His colleague, Beth Roberts, also begins firing at the vehicle in response to his cries. Whether by sheer luck or poor aim, the suspect — arrested on suspicion of stealing his girlfriend’s car — was not injured.

Sheriff Eric Aden of Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that Mr Hernandez “resigned during our investigation but was ultimately found to have violated policy”, Northwest Florida Daily News reports.

He added: “We are very thankful [the suspect] wasn’t injured and we have no reason to think former deputy Hernandez acted with any malice.

“Though his actions were ultimately not warranted, we do believe he felt his life was in immediate peril and his response was based off the totality of circumstances surrounding this fear.”