Body Cam Footage Shows Officers Arresting Legally Blind Man, Thinking His Walking Stick Was A Weapon
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida is conducting an internal investigation after a legally blind man was recently arrested.
Body cam footage, which has gone viral, depicts the October 31 arrest of James Hodges, 61. He was apprehended for resisting arrest without violence.
An officer thought that Hodges was holding “what appeared to be a silver (chrome) pistol with a white grip in his back right pocket,” stated arrest documents. The item was eventually found to be a folded-up walking stick.
Hodges had been walking over Marion Ave, close to Duval St. “when the traffic control device indicated not to walk,” a report states.
It read that the deputy had walked up to Hodges to figure out what was inside of his back pocket, but stated that, “he continued to walk away.”
Hodges wouldn’t identify himself or give his date of birth. He also told the officer they were “only allowed to request his identification if he was in the act of committing a crime, about to commit a crime, or had already committed a crime.”
Hodges was then placed in handcuffs. After the deputy performed a pat down, they located his ID inside of his front pocket.
Another officer arrived on the scene and questioned Hodges about whether he was legally blind. He then validated that he was. The second deputy asked Hodges why he wasn’t utilized his walking stick. He responded that he didn’t need to use it during the day. He disclosed to deputies that he had utilized the stick when he traveled to the courthouse for jury duty.
Hodges was placed in the Columbia County Jail, right before 8:30 a.m., on Monday, October 31. He was freed on Tuesday, November 1, around 10:30 a.m.
CCSO Sheriff Mark Hunter stated on a Facebook post that he is “troubled by what he has seen in the video, and the matter is being addressed.”
The sheriff’s office noted that they are aware of the situation that occurred with Mr. Hodges. They added that consequences will be forthcoming if violations of the policies are found.
Damm this isn’t Canada, that damm U.S. Constitution. Snowflakes Cops!
Didn’t know they had snowflakes in FLORIDA. After watching that video it’s clear that they do.
“Don’t be a dick”. That is only a suspension? It’s the Sheriff’s Leadership that is the problem here. Many Sheriffs saw that video and were taken aback and that’s not easy to do to career law enforcement. The culture at that particular department is clearly way off the modern standard. The Sheriff was quick to announce an office shutdown when the hurricane warnings started. Where do you begin with this?
Comparatively speaking I hear the standard to get into law enforcement in Florida is quite low. I’ve been to Miami and a trained eye can observe the spectrum of quality of the individual officer in that state is far too varied. The pace of population growth down there is so intense they have a crisis level demand for new officers in that state.
A male California cop was fired for saying eat a bag of dicks. So is the issue the number of cocks? Or is it something to do with a bag? Is the issues multiple dicks plus the bag in combo and one or the other by themselves are ok? Are these fair questions? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dm9oGZYSv4
Here is Blind Man Jim Hodges GoFundMe please consider supporting him. He has many health issues yet in Florida not even the Blind can’t get out of jury duty. Thanks to all.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/blind-jim-hodges-illegally-arrested
The Blind Man’s partner is speaking out. Is this getting a bit more interesting?
https://www.wcjb.com/2022/11/08/partner-arrested-visually-impaired-veteran-speaks/
ummm…yup it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs4t27tm6AI
Recall Sheriff Mark Hunter for this obvious slap on the wrist https://www.change.org/p/governor-desantis-please-sheriff-mark-hunter?source_location=topic_page