Jacksonville, Fla. — It was a normal Friday night in the Riverside neighborhood of Five Points when officers say two men took a walk that terrorized a community.
In a live news conference Thursday, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Director of Investigations Mike Bruno announced the arrest of Damon Williams, 27, and Charles Janes, 18 after the men took to the streets of Riverside, rifles in hand.
But that wasn’t how the night started for the two suspects. Bruno said officers had been dispatched to Hoptingers on Park Street earlier that evening in reference to a fight outside involving approximately 20 people, but the alleged brawl had ended by the time officers were on scene.
Hours later, Bruno said concerned citizens flagged down officers in the area who had been conducting a traffic stop to report two men walking in front of the busy bars along Park Street.
As officers searched for the suspects, they were stopped multiple times by citizens whose descriptions matched earlier reports.
The suspects were located, unarmed, and police noted the men were disheveled, with fresh abrasions and bleeding - as if an earlier altercation had occurred.
Bruno believes the men were upset at the way the earlier group fight at Hoptinger ended and were returning to the scene.
Williams was charged with Open Carrying a Weapon. Janes was charged with Possession of a Weapon by a Florida Delinquent, Open Carrying a Weapon, Resisting an Officer Without Violence, and Giving a False Name to Law Enforcement.