An off-duty Florida sheriff’s sergeant is facing felony charges after he appeared to attack an elderly couple at a restaurant following a failed attempt to kiss his wife, according to The New York Post. The incident was captured on surveillance footage at Merk’s Bar & Grill in New Smyrna Beach.
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Jason Stickels, a sergeant with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, appeared to approach a seated couple and leaned in to kiss the 71-year-old woman, according to the footage and the charging affidavit. When the woman rejected the advance, her 77-year-old husband is seen stepping in, shaking Stickels’ hand, and pushing him away.
Stickels then appeared to grab the husband by the throat. A bystander at the restaurant is seen intervening, placing Stickels in a headlock and holding him there until local police arrived.
Sheriff publicly apologizes and says Stickels will soon be a former employee
When officers arrived at the scene, Stickels appeared to be heavily intoxicated and was reportedly unable to provide a coherent account of what had happened. He reportedly told officers, “You know what’s up, man,” and that he was “with the county; you know who I am,” before showing them his badge, per the charging affidavit.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood addressed the incident publicly in a Facebook post, saying: “How to throw away your law enforcement career in 2 minutes.” He added: “Off duty, stumbling drunk, harassing people who are just trying to enjoy their afternoon. I apologize for this soon-to-be former Volusia Sheriff’s Office sergeant’s idiotic behavior today. He is locked up tonight.” In another case, a Florida ex-cop is on trial after a game match between best friends turned deadly.
Stickels has been charged with two counts of felony battery on a person 65 years of age or older, according to court records obtained by the New York Post. He was reportedly booked and held overnight following his arrest.
Surveillance footage from the restaurant shows Stickels standing behind the seated couple before leaning toward the woman. After the assault on her husband, patrons at the bar can be heard yelling “get him out of here” while police were assessing the situation on scene, according to the report. A similar dispute in Florida saw a woman discipline her toddler after he spat in her face, then moments later a couple assaulted her.
Stickels has been employed by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office since 2004, The Post stated. Following his arrest, he was reportedly immediately placed on administrative leave and has since surrendered his badge and firearm, pending disciplinary action from the sheriff’s office.
