Jacksonville sheriff: Officers did not violate policy in ‘ugly’ arrests of 4 fans at Georgia-Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said Monday evening that none of his officers violated Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office policy in their use of force during the Georgia-Florida game at EverBank Stadium on Saturday.

Action News Jax told you this weekend about several videos on social media that showed two incidents in which JSO officers used force when dealing with fans. The officers were recorded throwing punches and using tasers.

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During a news conference on Monday evening, JSO walked the public through officer body-worn camera during the two separate use of force during the Georgia-Florida game on Saturday.

In both cases, JSO was called to help S.A.F.E. workers at the stadium eject people from the game. The officers involved in the arrests in the two separate incidents were named by Waters: Officer E.D. Kelly, Officer D.J. Bowers, Officer Jake Anthony, Sgt. J.S. Beasley, and Officer A. Cantino.

JSO began releasing each individual body-worn camera in a thread on X:

First incident

The first incident happened around 4:20 p.m. Saturday. Cell phone video captured Walter Brown, 39, being tasered and pushed into the stands.

Waters said Brown was arrested after police said he pushed and threatened a stadium worker.

Brown claimed she was trying to kidnap his children after police said the children tried to access an area they did not have tickets for and she told them to get their parents.

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In the body camera video, police say you can see the officers try three different times to get Brown out of the stands using minimal force.

At one point during the altercation, JSO Commander Jacob Vorpahl said the video shows Brown reaching for the officer’s gun.

Police also say Brown made a death threat against the officer and used racial slurs against the officer, who is Black.

“I’m either going to kill a cop or not leave,” Brown could be heard saying on the video.

Second incident

In the second incident, which happened just before 7 p.m., three people were reported to be threatening people and getting in their faces, JSO said.

A fan went up to a police officer to get help with the situation. When the officer arrived, the video shows a S.A.F.E. worker pointing to three people that they told the officer needed to be ejected.

The men did not comply with commands to leave.

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Vorpahl said Michael Long, 58, was shown in the video in “a fighting stance.” Social media showed Michael Long’s head being hit several times by an officer, but Vorpahl said the video posted to social media was edited to not show Michael Long’s hand in the officer’s face and covering his eyes before that.

Alexander Long, 27, was seen on the video jumping on Sgt. Beasley in a “bear hug,” Vorpahl said. Also arrested in this second incident was 42-year-old Brandon Boley.

Waters said officers were met with other instances of violence while working the Georgia-Florida game. A JSO horse was punched in the face, and six officers were hurt.

Law and safety expert Dale Carson reviewed both incidents and spoke with Action News Jax’s Emily Turner about what the officers faced. You can watch video of that below:

Law and safety expert weighs in

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