JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An off-duty officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office who was recorded on surveillance video last month slamming a teen at a Jacksonville Beach skate park has waived his court appearance set for Tuesday morning.
Stephen Hicks, 34, faces a misdemeanor battery charge after surveillance video from Sunshine Skate Park last month showed him grabbing a teenager riding an electric bicycle and slamming the teen to the ground.
According to the arrest report, multiple people had asked the teen to leave the park because e-bikes are prohibited. Witnesses told News4JAX that the teen had been taunting other park-goers before the incident.
The report states the teen was making his way out of the park while still on the bike when Hicks intervened. Hicks identified himself as a JSO detective and left the scene before Jacksonville Beach police arrived, leaving his name and badge number with a witness. He later surrendered to the JSO Integrity Unit.
Riding an electric bicycle inside the skate park is a violation of a park rule, but attorney Shannon Schott, who is representing the family of the victim, believes Hicks went too far when he confronted the teen.
Schott also said the teen and his family have been harassed and threatened by online commenters.
MORE | Attorney for child slammed by JSO officer at skate park calls for upgraded charges
Hicks’ attorney, Phil Vogelsang, is representing him in court and said the off-duty officer acted out of concern for public safety. Vogelsang argues the teen was riding what he describes as an electric motorcycle capable of speeds near 50 mph.
“I think if individuals knew you had a police officer there on scene and this kid seriously injured himself or seriously injured another child and after numerous people had asked them to stop doing it and numerous people indicated they had concerns for the safety of the public and had this officer not done anything I think the public would question why not, why not have prevented an accident,” Vogelsang said.
Witnesses expressed mixed reactions to the incident.
“I think maybe it might be a little deserved, I think there is a line to be crossed, and maybe he did cross that line. I don’t think it’s justified for an adult to slam a kid like that … but that doesn’t make the officer right," one of the witnesses said.
Hicks has pleaded not guilty to the charge and has been administratively reassigned while the investigation continues.
Over the past four years, Hicks has faced eight internal investigations while working for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, seven of which were sustained, including policy violations and traffic crashes. Vogelsang said those incidents are separate from the criminal case.
Hicks’ Tuesday hearing is set to begin at 9 a.m.