A Cop from Florida accidentally shot a motorist with his own weapon during a routine traffic stop in December last year. The motorist has since filed a lawsuit against the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
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The incident happened on December 13 after a driver, Jason Arrington, 39, ran through a red light. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has revealed
details of the events on Facebook, along with bodycam footage. Police Officer S. Lowry pulled over Arrington for the incident and requested assistance from two other officers.Officers Mindy Cardwell and A. Weippert arrived at the scene. Arrington was cooperative throughout the traffic stop, and he informed Lowry that he had a weapon holstered in his waistband. When Arrington exits his vehicle, the bodycam footage shows Cardwell attempting to retrieve his gun. She grabs at it with her right hand and accidentally discharges it.
The press release does not reveal if the safety was on before the gun was fired. Officer Lowry tells Cardwell to put the gun down while the third officer supports Arrington as he limps to the grass verge by the road.
The Florida Cop's Blunder Caused An Arterial Bleed
There is a shocking amount of blood in the bodycam footage, and Arrington's trouser leg is soaked from the knee down as the officers scramble for a tourniquet. Fortunately, officers are able to slow the bleeding, and Arrington remains conscious throughout the ordeal. He is clearly in a lot of pain from his injury, motioning with his hand for the officer to stop before he tightens the tourniquet.
According to the New York Post, the bullet penetrated Arrington's upper thigh and exited at his inner leg, causing an arterial bleed. The outlet reports that emergency services transported Arrington to a nearby hospital, and doctors expect him to recover fully.
Arrington has since filed a lawsuit against the JSO, citing lasting injuries that impede his work as a crane operator. Regarding the officer who discharged the weapon, the press release explains, "The Internal Affairs investigation resulted in a sustained charge of incompetence against Officer Cardwell, and JSO has begun termination proceedings for Officer Cardwell."
