Hunter did not return calls or emails seeking his comments for this story, but his public information officer, Sgt. The Sheriff’s Office’s social media accounts were deluged by posts calling for an investigation, and more.Ĭolumbia County Sheriff Mark A. Hodges’ video has received more than a million views. He was charged with resisting arrest without violence, a First-Degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine and 12 months of probation. At no point in Deputy Gohdy’s bodycam video did Hodges ever physically resist arrest. Hodges was placed in the back seat of the deputy’s squad car and taken to jail. Hodges, was that that hard?” Deputy Gohdy asked. “Why ain’t you using your stick,” the sergeant asked, as the warrant check came back clear. “I had to walk up here in the dark for jury duty, which was cancelled.” “You are not allowed to search me,” Hodges said.ĭeputy Gohdy ran a records check on Hodges with her radio. The sergeant pulled Hodges’ ID out of his left-front pants pocket. He refused to produce his ID so the deputies handcuffed him behind his back. “I verified that I am not armed so there is no crime,” Hodges said. “Her suspicion was that you were armed and she’s asking for your ID,” Sgt. Her sergeant arrived, whom the Sheriff’s Office later identified as Sgt. He pulled out a collapsible white cane from his back pocket and showed it to the deputy. “Well, you’re being one to me,” Hodges said. You don’t have to be a dick to me,” the deputy said. “Have you ensured that it’s not a firearm?” Hodges asked. I’m stopping you to make sure you’re carrying it properly.” ![]() “It looks like you’re carrying a gun in your back pocket. “Do you want me to put you in handcuffs right now?” Deputy Gohdy said. “I don’t have to give that …” Hodges started to say. “Yeah, I am actually,” Deputy Gohdy said. “What’s this in your back pocket?” Deputy Gohdy can be heard asking on the video. ![]() Hodges later posted a copy of the video on his YouTube page. James Hodges, who is legally blind and cannot drive, was walking home from jury duty in Lake City, Florida one week ago when he was stopped by Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy Jayme Gohdy, because she mistook his collapsible white cane for a pistol.Ī video of their encounter was captured by Deputy Gohdy’s body camera. (Video still courtesy of James Hodges’ YouTube account. “Enough people care.”Īccording to Phillips, a notice of intent to sue is being filed and Hodges is requesting a federal investigation of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.Ĭlick here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.James Hodges was charged with resisting arrest after a Columbia County (Florida) deputy mistook his white cane for a firearm. Hodges believes he will get the justice he deserves. Randy Harrison will be demoted, suspended without pay for seven days and he “will not be eligible for any favorable action for two years.”īoth deputies will be required to undergo remedial training pertaining to civil rights, Hunter said. Hunter said Deputy Jayme Gohde will be suspended without pay for two days and he also said Sgt. “I made up my mind to properly, legally and as maturely as possible given the circumstances, to fight back,” Hodges said.Ĭolumbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter announced Tuesday that two deputies have been disciplined after an administrative investigation into a recent arrest of a legally blind man. ![]() The item was later identified to be a folded-up walking stick. On the day Hodges was arrested, Gohde believed Hodges was carrying “what appeared to be a silver (chrome) pistol with a white grip in his back right pocket,” according to the arrest report. It is the biggest breach of trust that our society has.” “When they’re poorly trained when they abuse their power. “Police protect us, and we depend on the police to do the hero’s job,” Phillips said. Phillips said Hodges was unlawfully harassed, detained, searched, and arrested by Officer Jayme Gohde and Sergeant Randall Harrison of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. On Thursday, Hodges’ attorney John Phillips said they will also separately be asking the Department of Justice and Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. 31, arrest of James Hodges, 61.Ī deputy mistook his cane for a gun, while Hodges was walking home from canceled jury duty. ![]() A legally blind man in Lake City plans to sue the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, after what many are calling a “wrongful arrest.”īody camera video has been circulating online of the Monday, Oct.
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