36-year-old Stephen Hicks is charged with battery after a confrontation with a teen at Sunshine Park. New video obtained by First Coast News shows the incident.
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Video obtained by First Coast News appears to show the moment an off-duty officer grabbed a teen by the shoulder, pulled him off an e-bike and threw him to the ground at Sunshine Park Saturday.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says that 36-year-old Stephen Hicks, a five-year JSO veteran, faces a misdemeanor battery charge.
Hicks was released on bond after turning himself in to JSO’s Integrity Unit. The sheriff’s office has reassigned him pending the outcome of the case.
Police were called to the park Saturday afternoon after reports of teens riding e-bikes inside the skate park area, which has posted signs prohibiting motorized bikes and scooters.
One teen told Jacksonville Beach officers that a man had pulled him off his bike and slammed him to the ground, causing minor injuries, according to investigators.
Witnesses said Hicks identified himself as an off-duty officer, showed his badge and provided his name and badge number before leaving the scene.
Addie Martin, 13, who rides her e-bike at the park regularly, says she was there Saturday and called the incident frightening.
“At the end of the day, kids are just kids and we’re just having a good time,” Martin said.
The video shows Hicks confronting the teen behind the skate park.
“It makes you scared about what could happen to my friends or even me,” Martin said.
Parents who frequent the park acknowledged safety concerns surrounding the e-bikes, but said Hicks’ actions went too far.
Allen Warkentin called e-bikes “an epidemic” at the park.
“These are fast machines,” Warkentin said. “You’ve got little 3, 4-year-olds out here in their little scooters scooting around. The last thing they need to do is get mowed over by a kid bigger than them.”
Still, Warkentin and others said the officer crossed a line.
“The actions of the officer, that’s, no. That’s too much,” he said.
Hicks was booked into Duval County Jail. JSO confirmed his most recent assignment was with the Hazardous Devices Unit.