logo
Attorney: Officer violated man's rights in traffic stop shooting; settlement talks underway

Attorney: Officer violated man's rights in traffic stop shooting; settlement talks underway

Yahoo15-05-2025

A man is demanding justice after a traffic stop ended with him being shot in the leg by a Jacksonville police officer, not with her weapon, but with his legally-owned firearm.
The officer involved, Mindy Cardwell, has since been fired, and newly surfaced video from her internal affairs interview is revealing how a routine traffic stop spiraled into what the victim's attorney said was a major violation of his rights.
Jason Arrington was pulled over in December near North Main Street and 27th Street in Brentwood. He had reportedly run a red light, but denied this.
During the stop, he told officers he had a legally owned gun on his waist. Officers instructed him to step out of the vehicle so they could retrieve it.
In a recorded interview with internal affairs, Cardwell described her attempt to remove the firearm.
RELATED: Jacksonville officer who shot man in leg during traffic stop terminated
'I tried to pull the metal clip, holster, and gun from his waistband. It was not coming out. I put my hand on the handle of the gun to get leverage, and the gun went off,' Cardwell said.
Arrington was shot in the leg. His attorney, Kay Harper Williams, said the shooting caused lasting physical damage — and that Arrington now walks with a cane and suffers ongoing pain.
Williams is currently in settlement negotiations with the City of Jacksonville. She said what happened during the incident is a violation of Arrington's Fourth Amendment rights.
RELATED: Man shot with his own gun during traffic stop with Jacksonville officer speaks
The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, according to uscourts.gov.
'What we are accusing them of is a clear Fourth Amendment violation when the officer made the decision to seize Mr. Arrington's firearm and initiate this unlawful removal from his waist,' Williams said.
The case has drawn national attention, recently featured on the True Crime News YouTube channel, which has more than 5 million subscribers. The video includes clips from the body camera footage and the internal affairs interview, along with commentary from Arrington and his legal team.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
At one point in the interview, Cardwell admitted she initially wasn't sure how the firearm discharged, but later concluded her own mistake played a role.
'I think I set myself up for failure by transitioning from my dominant hand to my not dominant hand,' she said.
JSO cited incompetence when terminating Cardwell's employment.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Williams said if the city does not agree to a settlement, her next step is filing a federal lawsuit.
'We have not yet filed a lawsuit. However, we are in the settlement negotiations with the city. If that breaks down, then we absolutely will move forward and bring this case to federal court right here in Jacksonville,' Williams said.
She also said this case highlights the urgent need for more detailed officer training when it comes to safely handling firearms and respecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
Click 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.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to host town hall meetings this summer
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to host town hall meetings this summer

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to host town hall meetings this summer

This summer, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will hold town hall meetings for people to connect with officers who patrol their area. These meetings provide a chance to hear from Sheriff T.K. Waters and your District Commander. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The first event kicks off on July 8, while the final event wraps up on August 12. Here is the full schedule: District 6: Tuesday, July 8 at The Church of Eleven22 - North Jax Campus District 5: Tuesday, July 15 at Trinity Baptist Church District 4: Tuesday, July 22, at First Coast Christian School District 3: Tuesday, July 29 at University Christian School District 2: Friday, August 8 at The Church of Eleven22 - Arlington Campus District 1: Tuesday, August 1,2 at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click 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.

Gainesville Fire Department to stage fake fire during training exercise on Monday
Gainesville Fire Department to stage fake fire during training exercise on Monday

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Gainesville Fire Department to stage fake fire during training exercise on Monday

Gainesville residents may notice emergency vehicles and what appears to be smoke near the downtown area on Monday, but don't fret. It's just a training exercise. The Gainesville Fire Department will conduct field training on Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will simulate a commercial fire near downtown Gainesville. The department says the smoke will be artificial, and there will be no fire present. They ask that you do not call 911 regarding this incident. A single lane of College Avenue may be closed during the planned time period. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Atlanta-area rapper sentenced for bringing stolen loaded 'machine gun' into hospital labor unit 38-year-old GA man charged with grooming a minor Stolen vehicle leads to police chase along I-20 [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

‘Ghost guns' discovered after GA man found ‘slumped over' in driver's seat, deputies say
‘Ghost guns' discovered after GA man found ‘slumped over' in driver's seat, deputies say

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

‘Ghost guns' discovered after GA man found ‘slumped over' in driver's seat, deputies say

Deputies said a business checkup led to a man facing multiple charges. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On May 26, Twiggs County deputies were conducting business checks around 4 a.m. Deputies said at that time they spotted a 2020 Chrysler 300 parked at the Marathon gas station on Sgoda Road, with someone 'slumped' over in the driver's seat. TRENDING STORIES: 2 accused of stealing vehicle left on I-75 Teen dead, 6 others injured after shooting in Troup County Teen pulls gun on Lyft Driver in South Fulton, police say The driver was identified as Daetez Hertzog. After investigating the car, authorities said they found two 9mm non-serialized pistols identified as 'ghost guns.' In Georgia, a 'ghost gun' refers to a privately made firearm, often assembled from kits or parts without a serial number, meaning it's not traceable by law enforcement. The TCSO said they also seized marijuana, seemingly packaged with the intent to distribute. Hertzog was arrested on multiple charges. He was booked into the Twiggs County Jail. 'Do not bring drugs into Twiggs County. You will be arrested and jailed,' the sheriff's office said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store