In June 2003 an attorney for Chad DeBolt '03, '03MBA informed
officials of his intent to sue the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
for personal injuries and civil rights violations. Florida law
mandates that a lawsuit against a government agency cannot be
filed until six months after such a notification letter is sent.
According to DeBolt, officers at the Duval County Jail beat
him following his arrest for trespassing at a nightclub in Jacksonville.
Police said DeBolt was highly intoxicated and became violent.
An internal investigation found that pepper spray and a restraint
chair were used to contain him at his booking but that there was
no wrongdoing on the part of police. In February 2003, prosecutors
dropped the trespassing charge against DeBolt when he agreed to
pay a $150 fine to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund.
Jacksonville city attorney Larry Pritchard said the case has
been referred to the city's risk management team to conduct an
investigation and determine what action to take.
(Autumn 2003)
