The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office on Thursday, April 1st announced the arrest of an officer who is accused of repeatedly striking a handcuffed man who spit in his face.
Officer Alexander G. Grant, a five-year veteran, is charged with one count of misdemeanor battery after hitting a person already in custody.
The charge stems from an incident that took place on March 27 at BestBet Jacksonville, a poker room on Monument Road. Grant was working off-duty at the business when he was notified of a patron who was causing a disturbance in the parking lot and threatening to "shoot up" the business.
Police reports identify the patron as John Crosby, 43, of Brooklyn, New York.
Crosby was detained on a charge of making threats against a business, placed in handcuffs, and put in the back of a patrol car. JSO said things escalated when Crosby spit in Grants face and, in retaliation, Grant struck Crosby multiple times.
Footage of the incident was captured on body camera. JSO said Crosby can be heard spitting in the video, which shows Grant wiping spit off his face.
While police can use force to detain and arrest people, the use of force must be appropriate and in line with agency protocol. JSO said even though Crosby spit on the officer, that doesn't excuse striking someone who's handcuffed.
Another officer working off-duty with Grant witnessed what happened and told a sergeant, who notified the Sheriffs Offices Integrity Unit, which investigates misconduct. The Integrity Unit met with the State Attorneys Office to discuss the incident, which resulted in Grants arrest Thursday.
Crosby, who is charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, suffered minor abrasions on his face.
The officer's current employment status is not clear at this time.
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To be clear, the victim spit on the officer from the backseat of a patrol car, through the open car window while cuffed. Once spit on, the officer then opened the car door to strike the victim multiple times.
While bodycam footage is mentioned in all articles regarding this event, I have yet to find it released to the public.
The victim is now being charged with battery on a law enforcement officer because spitting on someone's person constitutes battery in Florida.