JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The family of a Middleburg man who said undercover Jacksonville officers used excessive force during a November arrest has retained two high-profile civil rights attorneys and is speaking exclusively with News4JAX.
Newly released body-worn camera video posted online by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office appears to show undercover officers punching Dashaun Williams as he was taken into custody during an operation the agency called “Operation Red Light.” The sheriff’s office said the video and incident are the subject of an administrative review.
Williams, 23 at the time of the arrest, is charged with 27 counts related to alleged drug trafficking. Police said Williams and three others were selling methamphetamine and fentanyl as part of what JSO described as a long-term gang-related drug operation.
Family members and Williams’ girlfriend say the video shows officers tasing, punching and slapping him while he was not resisting. In the footage, Williams is seen walking slowly near a car at a Middleburg gas station when an officer orders him to get down and fires a stun gun.
“What bothers me the most is that our sheriff here in this county, T.K. Waters, would tell the community to comply with officers when they give commands. Nothing about that video shows my son not complying,” Williams’ mother, Deonca Mitchell said. “He did everything that he was supposed to do. He got beaten.”
Williams’ girlfriend, Devenia Seymore, said the operation felt personal. “They called the operation ‘Red Light’ — his nickname is ‘Green Light’ — and I feel it was more so toward him,” she said. “He was the only person who got caught and was beat that bad.”
In court, Williams’ defense attorney attempted to negotiate a plea deal that state prosecutors rejected. His next court date is scheduled for April 9.
News4JAX reached out to the sheriff’s office for comment; the agency declined further comment beyond confirming the administrative review.