Lakeland police officers accused of punching man at traffic stop put on modified duty
LAKELAND — Black Live Matters Restoration Polk Inc. leaders say that during the past month, four Lakeland residents have come forward with videos demonstrating a “pattern of violent behavior” by Lakeland police officers.
Carl Soto, Polk BLM co-founder and vice president, said there was a meeting with Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor and Assistant Chief Marvin Tarver on Tuesday in which he shared several videos displaying the conduct of Detective Dillon Cornn and Officers Jason McCain and Anton Jefferson. All are members of the department’s Street Crimes Unit, and all three were involved in a December arrest captured on video that appeared to show a suspect being punched on the ground.
The officers are under active investigation after the Dec. 18 arrest of Antwan Glover, who was detained on West 9th Street for allegedly not wearing a seatbelt, then officers spotted marijuana inside the car. Two videos posted to Facebook of Glover’s arrest went viral, showing what appeared to be an officer punching Glover in the head and upper torso.
“In the wake of Mr. Glover’s incident, videos have surfaced all over social media that have outraged the community,” Soto said. “This pattern of violent behavior is inexcusable.”
PreviouslyPolk BLM calls for arrest of 4 Lakeland officers, removal of new police chief
How it beganVideo from arrest at traffic stop shows Lakeland officer punching suspect on ground
BLM asserts it was after Tuesday’s meeting that all three officers were placed on modified duty effective immediately.
Taylor issued a press statement Wednesday stating the officers’ duties were changed in light of new information.
"When this new information is considered along with the previously known facts of this case, and after consulting with the City Manager Shawn Sherrouse, we have decided it is prudent to place Detective Dillon Cornn and Officers Anton Jefferson and Jason McCain on a modified duty status effective immediately," he said.
Taylor said the "modified duty status" means the officers will have limited contact with the public and are restricted from working extra duty details. These restrictions will remain in place until the investigation is complete.
Under the LPD policy, the investigation has to be completed within 180 days, according to LPD spokeswoman Robin Tillett.
Pastor Clayton Cowart, founder of the faith-based civil rights group Poor and Minority Justice Association, said his organization stands by BLM in calling for Lakeland Police Department and its officers to be held accountable.
“As far as we are concerned, Jason McCain is a wanted man by this community,” Clayton said. “This community does not trust law enforcement.”
These groups are calling for State Attorney Brian Haas to arrest all the officers involved and charge them with crimes. Clayton said two letters have been sent to the State Attorney’s Office without response.
“We’re talking about active criminal cases and we can’t comment,” Jacob Orr, chief assistant to Haas, told The Ledger on Thursday afternoon.
Soto said BLM is reaching out to the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the Lakeland Police Department and its behavior.
“We believe pursuant to federal standards these officers should be charged with hate crimes,” he said.
The four cases BLM presented as evidence span a period of 13 months from June 2021 to July 2022 in which family or bystanders captured cellphone footage of an encounter with Lakeland police. Three of the individuals were arrested and face criminal charges.
Polk BLM founder Jarvis Washington, who provided a video, was not arrested or detained after officers recognized him as a active member of Lakeland’s Black community, according to Soto.
Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland officers accused of punching man are put on modified duty
