JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Body-worn camera videos showing the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s arrest of a Middleburg man during an undercover drug and gang investigation have gone viral on social media, prompting questions about whether officers used excessive force.
News4Jax was digging for answers on Tuesday after we received an email with the subject headline: “We need help ASAP.”
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The email was sent to us by a woman who said she is the girlfriend of Dasaun Williams, the man who was arrested in the now viral video.
In the email, she asks for the public’s awareness and an investigation into the arrest, but she was unable to be immediately reached on Tuesday afternoon. Since the video was posted to social media, we’ve received more than a dozen requests to look into it.
Williams was arrested in November, according to court records. His mugshot shows him with a swollen face.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says he’s an accused drug dealer and linked to the ‘Out East 1200′ gang.
The video, posted on social media and viewed thousands of times, appears to show JSO officers striking Williams in the face, placing multiple knees to his head, and repeatedly using a stun gun on his back. A separate clip shows what appears to be multiple slaps to his face while he is pinned down by officers. Williams also appears to vomit in the video.
Before the takedown, Williams is slowly walking away from officers near a car parked at a Middleburg gas station as one officer tells him to get down before firing a stun gun.
JSO announced the operation, called Operation Red Light, saying it led to the arrests of alleged gang members and seizures of drugs.
The agency has not released the full body-worn camera footage that has circulated online; News4JAX has asked JSO for the complete video, but has so far been able to review only what was posted publicly.
Williams’ arrest report describes a months-long undercover investigation and lists several charges.
The report’s description of the arrest says, “The Gang Investigations Unit conducted a buy/bust on Dasaun Williams, taking him into custody,” but it does not mention the use of force seen in the video.
The social media post of the video included the names of prominent civil rights attorneys Benjamin Crump and Harry Daniels. News4JAX confirmed with Daniels that he has been in contact with Williams’ family and is considering representing them.
JSO said the video is under administrative review, and it can not comment at this time.
Williams is set to appear in court to face his charges on Thursday.