JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The attorney for an off-duty Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer who tackled a teenager at a local skate park said his client has been cleared after the State Attorney’s Office dropped a misdemeanor battery charge.
Officer Stephen Hicks was charged in January after video showed him slamming the teen to the ground at Sunshine Skate Park, sparking public outrage. Investigators later determined the teen was riding an electric motorcycle capable of high speeds inside the public park.
Hicks’ attorney, Phillip Vogelsang, previously told News4JAX that Hicks intervened out of concern for the safety of people nearby. “He felt he was doing the best thing for the safety of the public,” Vogelsang said in a January interview.
After the charge was dropped, Vogelsang said in a statement, “We are pleased that due process has concluded and the case is resolved, enabling Officer Hicks to continue his service in keeping our community safe.”
During the investigation, Hicks was placed on the Brady list maintained by the State Attorney’s Office, which flags law enforcement officers with sustained findings related to misconduct or dishonesty that could affect court testimony. Defense attorney Gene Nichols, who is not involved in the case, said being listed can follow an officer even if the designation is later removed.
“It’s a scarlet letter,” Nichols said, adding that officers may still face questions from defense attorneys years later about prior Brady listings.
The teen who was tackled has not been publicly identified. News4JAX confirmed through sources that the teen’s parents are disappointed the State Attorney’s Office will not pursue criminal charges.
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