Glynn County Police Department investigate video showing Stanley Jackson confronted by officer and many think he went too far in the manner of the arrest.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — An investigation is underway in Brunswick, Georgia after video of an arrest in the crosswalk of a road set off a firestorm on social media.
The intersection of Altama Avenue and Altama Connector became the scene of what is now an investigation into the actions by an officer after video of an officer intervention was posted on social media.
In the video posted on Facebook the officer is seen with his left hand on a man family members have identified as Stanley Jackson, who they say has a history of mental illness.
Shortly after Jackson waves his hand in a direction out of view of the camera the officer swings Jackson to the ground. While on the ground Jackson can be seen grabbing towards the officer’s duty belt.
The video of the arrest was shown to First Coast News Crime & Safety Analyst Mark Baughman, who says he believes the officer’s actions are justified.
“We aren’t health care clinicians,” said Baughman referring to police officers on patrol, “we have to do something right away in one particular moment to make sure he’s safe and the public is safe, he could have easily run into traffic.”
The video of the arrest is only that from a passerby. The Glynn County Police Department said they will release body-worn and in-car video once the identity of an off-duty Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms officer can be protected.
A statement from the Glynn County Police Department reads:
“The Glynn County Police Department thoroughly reviews all responses to resistance (use of force) incidents through multiple layers of supervision in order to ensure the amount of force used is reasonable and in accordance with agency policy. This incident with Officer Dustin Shipskie is currently under review and will consist of supervisory level and executive reviews.
“To maintain transparency, accountability, and trust with the community we serve, the body-worn and in-car videos showing the encounter will be released once they are properly formatted to protect the identity of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents who came to assist Officer Shipskie. This is being addressed promptly with appropriate concerns for both the public interest in viewing the video along with ATF agents’ identification security concerns.
As for the status of Officer Shipskie: he remains on regular, full duty.”
Jackson’s sister tells First Coast News that her brother was taken to the hospital due to his injuries.
“Could he have done it maybe not as rapidly or turned him around and cuffed him standing up,” said Baughman, “but what he did was not out of their policy I don’t believe at all.”
The Glynn County Police Department manual states that an officer can make an arrest if the officer has personal knowledge of the commission of a crime.
With regards to mental health issues, the policy states, in part: “Officers should consider detaining the person under protective custody for an involuntary commitment.
A link to the full Glynn County Police Department policy manual can be found here.
According to a previous press release by the Glynn County Police Department, after the arrest Stanley Jackson was transported to the Glynn County Detention Center where he reportedly became verbally aggressive but did not become physically aggressive. He was then released to the custody of jail staff and faces one felony charge of Obstruction or Hindering a Law Enforcement Officer.
