Jacksonville officer arrested after hitting handcuffed suspect outside Poker Room

JACKSONVILLE — A 5-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) has been arrested and charged with battery after hitting a suspect who was detained in the backseat of his patrol vehicle.

In a live news conference Thursday, JSO Undersheriff, Pat Ivey, said the incident unfolded on Saturday, March 27, from the parking lot of the Poker Room on Monument Rd., where officer Alexander Grant had been working off-duty security.

According to Ivey, patrons inside the Poker Room alerted Grant to a rowdy customer outside the business who was heard making threats to shoot up the business.

The suspect was arrested and placed in the backseat of Grant’s patrol vehicle.

When the officer rolled down the back window of his vehicle to read the suspect his rights, Ivey said the man spit directly in Grant’s face. Grant then opened up the door of the patrol vehicle and struck the man multiple times.

Another JSO officer working off-duty with Grant observed the incident and later reported it to the agency’s Integrity Unit.

Ivey says the man suffered a small abrasion to his face.

Grant was arrested and charged with 1 count of 1st degree misdemeanor battery. The suspect was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer.

Ivey says the incident was investigated alongside the State Attorney’s Office to decide what charges were appropriate.

Watch the full news conference below.

Cox Media Group