Florida Officer Threatens to Jail Man for Jaywalking, Captured on Video

Florida Officer Threatens to Jail Man for Jaywalking, Captured on Video
(Screenshot/YouTube)
Jack Phillips
6/29/2017
Updated:
6/29/2017

A man was cited for crossing the street without identification in Jacksonville, Florida, in a now-viral video that was posted on Facebook.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s spokeswoman Melisssa Bujeda told The Associated Press the office is “aware of this video and an administrative review is being conducted.”

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer J.S. Bolen told 21-year-old Devonte Shipman that he could be taken to jail for “disobeying a direct order” after he stopped him for jaywalking. Shipman recorded the incident before posting on Facebook, where it was seen hundreds of thousands of times.

Shipman recorded the incident before posting on Facebook, where it was seen hundreds of thousands of times.

The officer then threatens to arrest him.

Here’s a transcript of the encounter, according to CBS Miami:

OFFICER BOLEN: “I’m about to put you in jail.”

SHIPMAN: “For what?”

OFFICER BOLEN: “Disobeying a direct order.”

SHIPMAN: “That’s not disobeying a direct order.”

OFFICER BOLEN: “Resisting without”

SHIPMAN: “That’s not resisting”

OFFICER BOLEN: “Walk to my car.”

SHIPMAN: “That is not resisting officer. That is not resisting officer.”

OFFICER BOLEN: “Listen to me. I am doing you a favor. I am not telling you again.”

Shipman then says he never saw the crosswalk light indicate that he could go.

“There was two cars that were coming through the intersection that had to slow down. They had the right of way, not you,” said Bolen in the video.

Later, he tells Shipman that he needs an ID, citing a non-existent state law.

“In the state of Florida, you have to have an ID card on you identifying who you are,” said Bolen during the encounter.

However, according to Florida state law, only drivers need to have ID—not pedestrians, CBS Miami reported.

“You’re already videoing it. We can see the officer’s attitude. Take it to court. Show the judge. The right thing will happen in court,” said lawyer Michael Gottlieb.

According to the Miami Herald, Shipman said that he wants Bolen off the police force. The Jacksonville police force is reviewing the video, but Bolen isn’t under investigation, according to the Florida Times-Union.

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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