Latest news with #Faggart
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protesters demand answers outside Duval County jail in death of Charles Faggart
Police accountability and transparency were the main concerns of advocates who protested outside the Duval County Jail early Sunday afternoon. The demonstration was one of several demanding justice for Charles Faggart. Protestors simultaneously honored the life of George Floyd on the fifth anniversary of his death at the hands of police. Among those in attendance was Faggart's mother, Tracy Karpas, who said she is frustrated with the lack of information surrounding her son's death. 'I'm just tired. I have been fighting for almost 2 months,' Karpas said. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Karpas explained that she has not received a direct answer from city officials about the investigation into her son's death. 'I've been speaking for almost 2 months, and still, I haven't heard T.K. Waters' office. Donna Deegan sent a 10-word statement to the news and never said a word to us,' she said. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters responded to the case earlier in the week. 'We're still working the jail case and I do want to say this...I do want to say that when I came out and made the moves that we made, it wasn't to say that anyone was guilty. It was to say that we need to investigate this process. We need to investigate it fully and make sure that we provide the public and that young man's family with the right answers,' Sheriff Waters said. Nearly 100 people gathered on the steps of the jail, chanting 'No racist police' and 'Transparency now — we won't back down' as they called for change to policing not just in Jacksonville, but nationwide. The Jacksonville Community Action Committee led the protest, holding signs that read 'End police brutality' and 'No one is above the law — justice for Charlie.' 'Our opinion is there needs to be a resolution, and this family needs to have some answers,' said advocate Michael Sampson. Faggart died days after an April 7th incident inside the jail. That incident led to nine Jacksonville Sheriff's Office corrections officers being stripped of their authority. Protesters are calling for the termination and prosecution of the officers involved, increased transparency, and civilian oversight of in-custody deaths. 'I think officers who are involved need to be held accountable to the furthest end of the law. There needs to be some type of mechanism for the people of this city to have some oversight or some ability, on how policing is done in our city.' Action News Jax has also been seeking answers from the sheriff's office about Faggart's death for over a month. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] ,
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Disgusting': Mom of Duval County Jail inmate who later died speaks about her son's medical records
The mother of an inmate who died after an incident inside the Duval County Jail is speaking out about what's in her son's medical records. Last week, Charles Faggart's medical records were first obtained and reported by The Tributary, which shared the records with Action News Jax. The records reveal Faggart's condition when he was admitted to the hospital and show he had several fractures and internal injuries before he died. Faggart's mom Tracey Karpas said it took her nearly 3 hours to read through the records. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'The report was disgusting to me,' Karpas said. 'The amount of injures that my son incurred was disgusting.' She said after looking through them, she learned her son did not have fentanyl in his system or have a seizure leading up to his death, contradicting the redacted Jacksonville Sheriff's Office report that said officers witnessed Faggart suffer a seizure and it also said he told them he had taken fentanyl. 'The first thing I saw was no trace of fentanyl in his system,' Karpas said. 'Brain activity report from the medical report, shows no history of a seizure at all.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] She also said those medical records show that Faggart had taser barbs removed from his back, something that was not listed in JSO's redacted report. Karpas told Action News Jax she just wants justice for her son. Action News Jax reached out to JSO on Tuesday for an update on the investigation. JSO said it continues to be an active investigation, and no further information is available at this time. 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.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘Justice for Charles': Jacksonville community members pushing for answers in inmate's death
The demand for answers continues in the police investigation into the death of a Duval County Jail inmate. Protestors gathered outside Jacksonville City Hall on Tuesday and chanted, 'Justice for Charles.' Charles Faggart died after an incident involving corrections officers at the Duval County Jail. 'My son no longer has a voice, so I am his voice,' said Tracey Karpas, Faggart's mother. 'I will not stop fighting until something is done.' Action News Jax showed you the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office report last week, which provides some details of a two-hour-long series of events involving Faggart and multiple sheriff's office employees inside the jail. RELATED: Report reveals incident that preceded Duval inmate Charles Faggart's death stretched over 2 hours That report said Faggart was resisting officers and hurting himself while being taken to a cell. Sources told us he was pepper-sprayed while police restrained Faggart in a chair two separate times. Nine JSO corrections employees named in the report were removed from their positions and stripped of their authority. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Some of Faggart's friends spoke out during public comment at Tuesday's City Council meeting, reiterating the message that they will not stop pushing for transparency. 'They failed to keep him safe, and there must be some accountability for that,' Karen, a friend, said. 'Charles' death is heartbreaking,' Katie, a friend, said. 'I urge you, our council, to follow up accordingly.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] The City Council did not comment on the death during Tuesday's meeting. Action News Jax reached out to JSO for an update on the investigation. We were told this is still an active case. Sheriff T.K. Waters previously said JSO policies could change after the investigation. 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.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
FOP President: Jacksonville officers involved in incident before inmate's death will be exonerated
The Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville issued a statement on Wednesday expressing confidence that nine Duval County Jail corrections officers involved in an incident that left an inmate dead will be cleared of any wrongdoing. The death of Charles Faggart nearly one week ago has raised questions about transparency and the treatment of inmates at jail. An attorney representing his family said Faggart had been brain dead since Monday, April 17, when the incident occurred. Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters demanded justice, including Faggart's mother and the mother of Faggart's five-year-old son. FOP, in its statement, also cautioned 'the public against rushing to judgment based on social media speculation.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Here is the full statement from FOP President Randy Reeves: 'The FOP joins Sheriff Waters in his desire to pursue an in-depth, speedy, and comprehensive investigation by federal and local agencies to determine the facts leading up to and including the incident involving our nine Corrections Officers and Mr. Faggart. 'We are confident the investigation, based on facts and evidence, will exonerate the nine officers. JSO Corrections Officers are well trained professionals who dutifully follow established policies and procedures established by federal, state, and local authorities. 'We want to caution the public rushing to judgment based on social media speculation concerning the incident involving Mr. Faggart who was incarcerated at the Duval County Jail. 'We share in the community's anticipation and the revelations of pending reports from the Medical Examiner's office as well as other agencies investigating this incident.' [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters issued the following statement in response to Reeves' statement: 'When I brought the Charles Faggart death investigation to the public's attention I sought to be forward facing about this agency's search for answers. This was not a rush to judgment on the correction officers' guilt or innocence. This investigation is active and ongoing. FOP President Randy Reeves appropriately asks that this investigation be completed before the public passes' judgment on the officers' actions. Facts, not feelings, shape the contours of criminal investigations and are the foundation of proof in the American criminal justice system. Our detectives are tirelessly working to complete a thorough and comprehensive investigation. I ask for the public's patience as we seek to give the Faggart family the answers it deserves.' Monday, April 7, 2025: An incident happens in the Duval County Jail involving eight corrections officers, one corrections sergeant, and inmate Charles Faggart. The incident leads to Faggart being taken to a local hospital. Tuesday, April 8, 2025: Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters first announced publicly that eight corrections officers and one corrections sergeant are part of the active investigation into an inmate's death and have been stripped of their corrections authority. Wednesday, April 9, 2025: Action News Jax told you when Waters announced that he had asked the FBI to help investigate. Currently, the FBI said there is no open federal investigation. Also on this day, Attorney Belkis Plata identified Faggart as the inmate who was fighting for his life. Thursday, April 10, 2025: Plata reveals that Faggart had died. Read: Statements from Mayor Donna Deegan, Sheriff T.K. Waters, the family's attorney and other local officials on the death of Charles Faggart Friday, April 11, 2025: Two law enforcement sources told Action News Jax what happened in Duval County Jail before Faggart's death. Sunday, April 13, 2025: Hundreds turned out for a march and a rally in front of JSO headquarters in downtown Jacksonville. 'I loved Charles and he deserved so much more than this. And that's all I have to say,' said Caitlyn Benz, the mother of Faggart's six-year-old son Lincoln. Monday, April 14, 2025: JSO releases a redacted incident report of the incident in the Duval County Jail that preceded Faggart's death. JSO also identifies the nine corrections employees under investigation. 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.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Report reveals incident that preceded Duval inmate Charles Faggart's death stretched over 2 hours
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office on Monday released the incident report into the death of Duval County Jail inmate Charles Faggart. The incident that led to Faggart's death happened Monday, April 7. Faggart was in critical condition at a local hospital until he died on Thursday. This incident also led to nine corrections employees being removed and stripped of their corrections authority. The corrections sergeant and eight corrections officers were identified by JSO on Monday afternoon. The incident report is redacted, but reveals the incident stretched over two hours. RELATED: Jacksonville police identify 9 officers removed from jail duties after injury of inmate who died According to the report, just after 7 a.m. on Monday, April 7, Faggart was being moved to a cell when he 'was displaying aggressive, erratic and disruptive behavior by thrashing his body, clenching his fist and pushing & pulling actions while attempting to escort into the dorm.' Several officers tried to put Faggart in a restraint chair, but they say he continued to fight. Action News Jax told you last week that sources told us Faggart was eventually pepper-sprayed during this part of the incident. Officers also put a spit mask over Faggart's head, according to the report. At 7:24 that morning, the jail's mental health director spoke to Faggart and, according to the report said, 'that he did fentanyl, she deemed him fit to be placed in self-harm housing.' [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] A nurse also evaluated Faggart and deemed him well enough to remain in the restraint chair. More than one hour later, at 8:51 that morning, eight of the officers who have been suspended took Faggart out of the restraint chair and escorted him into a cell. What happened next is heavily redacted in the report, but it said between 8:55 a.m. and 8:57 a.m. that morning, Faggart was placed back in the restraint safety chair. Then the report said that by 9 a.m., medical staff arrived and Faggart was transported to the hospital. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Action News Jax's Madison Foglio asked criminal attorney Chris Carson how long an inmate is typically placed in a restraint chair. He said it depends on the situation. "What's not clear to me from the report is how exactly it all ties together with the ultimate harm that he suffered, because unfortunately, that part is redacted. So it's kind of hard to tell exactly how much of a contributing factor the chair may have been to his unfortunate demise," Carson said. It's also important to note that the incident report does state that a seizure was witnessed during the incident. We did reach out to the Medical Examiner's Office for an update, but they said the reports have not been finalized at this time. 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.
