A Jacksonville patrol officer has been charged with battery after becoming frustrated with an “extremely intoxicated” man during an arrest and punching him, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
On Monday, July 13, Officer Shane Saydek arrested 43-year-old Kaashif Griffin on charges of possession of an open container in a vehicle and resisting an officer.
“Griffin was extremely intoxicated when he was arrested, which led to Officer Saydek becoming more frustrated with him,” the Sherif’s Office said. “While Griffin was handcuffed on jail property, Officer Saydek struck him. The interaction was captured on the officer’s body-worn camera.”
Sheriff T.K. Waters said Griffin did not sustain injuries that required medical treatment, but a second officer witnessed Saydek strike him and reported it to his chain of command. The Sheriff’s Office Integrity Unit launched an investigation and gathered the probable cause to arrest Saydek for battery the following afternoon. Saydek, a three-year veteran, has been suspended, and the Sheriff’s Office will seek his termination.
During a media briefing announcing the arrest, the sheriff also showed bodycam video of what transpired in the sally port of the Sheriff’s Office where the suspect was being processed for jail. Saydek has Griffin handcuffed and pinned against a Sheriff’s Office vehicle trying to fingerprint him. He even tells Griffin “I am going to punch you. Stop scratching me!”
Griffin does not appear combative or even capable of being combative and is somewhat incoherent, repeating he has nothing, no crimes and he just wants to go home. Two more times Saydek threatens to punch him and orders him to stop tensing his hand, moving his fingers and grabbing at him. And finally he punches him in the head and face area.
“I told you, I warned you multiple times, you’re going to get punched. … Yeah, you understand now, stop,” and he strikes him again.
The other officer steps in, and Griffin cowers saying, “He’s going to hit me. … I’m chained up,” he repeats looking at the other officer.
In Griffin’s arrest report, Saydek does reference punching him to “gain his compliance.” In Saydek’s arrest report, his interview with the integrity officer is redacted.
“Yes, I am extremely outraged and disappointed in Saydek’s behavior,” Waters said. “And no, we will not train differently. … Our JSO policy and training already makes it abundantly clear that Saydek’s behavior for which he was arrested is illegal, contrary to JSO policy and plainly wrong. Saydek may very well have been frustrated during his interaction with this subject; however, his frustration absolutely did not justify his actions.”
The sheriff was asked if the officer’s warnings that he was going to punch Griffin were acceptable.
“In my humble opinion, there was no reason to even think about punching him at that time,” Waters said, noting that in some circumstances it is OK to warn them if they’re not cooperating.
He said this was the sixth arrest of a Sheriff’s Office employee by the agency this year.
(This story has been updated with a portion of the video.)
Scott Butler has been an editor/reporter specializing in public safety coverage for 26 years with The Florida Times-Union. He can be reached at sbutler@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sheriff’s officer arrested after bodycam shows him punching suspect
Reporting by Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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By Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
