JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Charges have been dropped against an off-duty officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office who was captured on surveillance video slamming a teenager to the ground at a Jacksonville Beach skate park earlier this year.
Stephen Hicks, 34, was charged with misdemeanor battery after he was seen on video slamming a teen to the ground who was riding an electric bicycle inside the Sunshine Skate Park in January.
Records showed that the charge was dropped as of Tuesday.
According to Hicks’ arrest report, multiple people had asked the teen to leave because he was riding an E-bike inside the skate park, which was against park rules.
The report stated that the teen was making his way out of the skate park while still on the bike when Hicks grabbed him by the arm, pulled him off the bicycle and slammed him to the ground.
According to the arrest report, Hicks stood over the teen and told bystanders that “he was a JSO detective dealing with a criminal issue.”
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,believed Hicks went too far when he confronted the teen.
Hicks left the park before Jacksonville Beach police arrived, but left his name and JSO badge number with a witness. Hicks later surrendered himself to the JSO Integrity Unit.
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