A Florida sheriff’s deputy is seen on video shooting at a Black man who was searched, handcuffed, and placed in a patrol vehicle after mistaking the sound of a falling acorn for a gunshot.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage Monday that shows Deputy Jesse Hernandez yelling “Shots fired!” multiple times as he falls to the ground and fires into the patrol vehicle last year.
“The internal investigation by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards ultimately determined his use of force during a call on November 12th was not objectively reasonable,” the sheriff’s office says in a release. “A policy violation regarding excessive use of control to resistance was sustained.”
Read: Parents Of OnlyFans Model In Florida Arrested In Texas For Tampering With Murder Evidence
“The victim provided text messages she said had been taken from inside her vehicle showing what appeared to be a firearm suppressor pointing at the dash of the victim’s vehicle,” the release states. “Jackson showed up at the scene around 9:09 a.m. and was detained, searched, handcuffed, and placed in the rear of Deputy Hernandez’s patrol vehicle while the investigation continued, and the victim completed the affidavit for the stolen vehicle.”
Marquis Jackson, suspected of stealing his girlfriend’s car earlier that morning, was restrained in the backseat.
Read: California Man Who Murdered His Girlfriend In 2021, Found Working At Missouri Hospital
“Deputy Hernandez was approaching the passenger side rear door of his patrol car to do a secondary search of Jackson when he heard a pop sound which he perceived to be a gunshot and believed he had been hit,” the release states. “He began yelling ‘shots fired’ multiple times, falling to the ground and rolling. He fired into the patrol car. After witnessing Deputy Hernandez’s response and reaction and fearing for his life, the Sergeant responded with gunshots towards the car as well in response to the perceived threat.”
He was unharmed by the gunshots, but he claims the incident has left him traumatized. I would concur.
Hernandez has since resigned from the sheriff’s office and has not been charged in the incident.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.