Florida does not require a concealed weapons permit. They also tell you that, if you comply with a police officer’s demands, you won’t get shot. The traffic stop that involved Jason Arrington proved that to be a lie. I tried to find a copy of the bodycam video that I could embed, but that was a no-go. Here are two links to the video:
When you watch this video, note that the man was completely compliant in every way. He answered every question, and complied with every request and order. He was pulled over in a traffic stop and the cop asked him if he had “anything crazy in the car.”
Mr Arrington replied that he did have a gun on his person. The cop then made some small talk and asked if he had a concealed weapons permit, and the man replied that he did not. (That isn’t required under state law.) The cop then asked Arrington if he was a convicted felon, to which he replied that he was not.
Then the cop said that they would have Arrington step out of the car and would disarm him, for the safety of both Mr Arrington and the police. That turned out to be a lie. The statement from the Sheriff’s office tells the rest of the story:
The firearm was secured in a holster and Officer Cardwell [a female backup deputy] had difficulty removing it. When [she] was finally able to remove the firearm from the holster, she unintentionally placed multiple fingers inside the trigger guard of the firearm, causing the firearm to discharge.
The bullet from this negligent discharge struck Arrington in the leg. I don’t blame the female deputy for this. She was placed into this situation without the proper training, and one would assume that the JSO takes guns from people during traffic stops as a matter of course. This wasn’t her fault. The real fault lies in a department policy of unnecessarily seizing firearms, and in not training deputies in how to safely handle unfamiliar firearms.
Unnecessary gun handling increases the odds of a negligent or accidental discharge from near zero to some other, higher chance. A gun that is in a proper holster has a near zero chance of discharging unexpectedly. Additionally, a person who has been pulled over for a nonviolent, noncriminal traffic violation and is otherwise compliant has a near zero chance of attempting to use that firearm to illegally injure or threaten police officers.
This unintentional discharge was the direct result of:
- Police who are paranoid in believing that everyone who has a gun is a threat to their safety. They are not.
- Police attempting to handle firearms with which they are unfamiliar is a hazard to everyone around them. Contrary to popular belief, police training in firearms and firearm safety is poor. If official policy of a department requires cops to disarm people, then the department has a responsibility to train officers to handle firearms in a much safer manner than what was displayed here.
For those reasons, the man is suing the Sheriff’s office. As a result of this incident, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office sent a memo to the entire department, notifying deputies that a person who is in possession of a firearm but not otherwise demonstrating that they are a threat to officers who are present, is not subject to having his firearms seized.
As it should have been all along.
This is also why I don’t inform cops that I am carrying. Florida doesn’t require me to, and I don’t. Asking me “Do you have anything crazy in the car?” isn’t asking me if I am armed, and I will respond in the negative.
30 Comments
Boneman · January 22, 2025 at 7:34 am
What a stupid question… “Crazy”??? I tend to be a very literal wiseass in a lot of situations. My retort in this case would have been, “Well, Sir, I’m not a Psychiatrist so I cannot in all honesty answer that question.”
Otherwise, I’m usually as courteous as can be w L.E. but be a Bonehead and well… I now have to REALLY exercise restraint of tongue.
This guy will get some kind of award here. Sadly, it will fall on the shoulders of the taxpayer and not the dopes responsible for the policy and lack of training. Though I will say a little might be on him for perhaps not having the Safety engaged?
Divemedic · January 22, 2025 at 9:08 am
The only handguns I own with safeties are 1911s. None of the Glocks, M&Ps, or CZs have a safety, because I am not stupid enough to put my finger on the trigger unless I intend to shoot.
Boneman · January 22, 2025 at 1:58 pm
Point well taken. Nor would you or I have found ourselves in this little jackpot either. Thanks.
Jason · January 22, 2025 at 8:48 am
“Shut the Fuck Up”, Pot Brothers at Law
https://x.com/TheQuartering/status/1865454685781459455
foot in the forest · January 22, 2025 at 8:51 am
FAFO what an interesting concept in “law enforcement”.
Woody · January 22, 2025 at 9:06 am
“she unintentionally placed multiple fingers inside the trigger guard of the firearm” I think basic gun handling 101 states don’t put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to shoot.
Skeptic · January 22, 2025 at 9:24 am
Yet another incompetent lady cop.
Mode Z · January 22, 2025 at 10:49 am
I don’t answer questions.
Chris · January 23, 2025 at 6:16 am
^This^
Stealth Spaniel · January 22, 2025 at 11:37 am
OMG! Can women cops get any more stupid? Yikes!! I try to stay away from ‘The Police” as much as possible. This also shows that cameras outside and INSIDE the car are almost required as standard operating procedure.
TRX · January 22, 2025 at 3:05 pm
Arkansas requires that you inform a police officer if you’re armed when you have contact with them. The Attorney General’s office issued a memo that this means “when a law enforcement officer asks you your name.” Then a further memo that the notification must be “verbal.” Apparently if you’re mute you’re out of luck.
This was all before Arkansas went Constitutional Carry a few years ago. The “duty to notify” has not been further addressed by the legislature or AG, but I consider shouting “I HAVE A GUN!” over the traffic noise is probably not the best way of dealing with the cops, many of whom seem to be highly-strung.
I’ve never had a cop ask for my name; 100% of the time they’ve wanted my driver’s license. I remove my CHCL with my driver’s license and pass both to them, which technically does not fulfill the letter of the law, but so far I haven’t had a problem with that.
SoCoRuss · January 22, 2025 at 3:26 pm
Agree but 1st firearm rule says don’t put your fucking fingers on the trigger unless you plan to shoot it, it WILL go bang. Anyone in a LE job that doesn’t get that shouldn’t be a LEO.
If this guy had been killed bet they would have claimed HE went for a gun instead.
Another example of shitty LE training in general and especially with diversity hires and just how big of a mistake the 17th amendment was.
SoCoRuss · January 22, 2025 at 3:50 pm
Update, yes I know its the 19th amendment for women, fat fingered it and hit post versus retype the 9 for some reason. After all the shit since the election, I’m gonna have to start day drinking anyway..
But as a aside the 17th was Shit also.
That’s the problem with a lot of our constitutional amendments. No one absolutely NO ONE back then could forsee how fucked up people would become today.
Nolan · January 22, 2025 at 5:02 pm
she unintentionally placed multiple fingers inside the trigger guard of the firearm”
Mehhh,, unintentionally? Ignorantly, without Any grasp of the potential consequences?
Another DEI hire, sent out without the Basic training of firearm safety. Heads Above hers should roll.
Henry · January 22, 2025 at 5:46 pm
One of the best analyses of the traffic stop comes from this attorney’s utoob channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I90zRntN1wQ
Needless to say, he’s not impressed by the quality of law enforcement on display.
Elrod · January 22, 2025 at 6:05 pm
“Yet another incompetent l̶a̶d̶y̶ cop.”
That’s the default setting.
TCK · January 22, 2025 at 10:34 pm
How would an admission like that affect the civil case the victim is pursuing?
TCK · January 22, 2025 at 10:35 pm
Derp, this was suppose to be a reply to Unknownsailor’s comment below.
Unknownsailor · January 22, 2025 at 7:07 pm
Police Activity has badge cam views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79Mjo-a4ODM
Last line in the description: “The Internal Affairs investigation resulted in a sustained charge of incompetence against Officer Cardwell and JSO has begun termination proceedings for Officer Cardwell.”
So, she is being fired for incompetence.
Divemedic · January 22, 2025 at 9:11 pm
Of course. Sheriff can’t admit it was their fault. Lowest on the totem pole that can take the blame does
joe · January 22, 2025 at 8:12 pm
the more auditor videos i watch, the more i believe women have no place in law enforcement whatsoever…there are enough dumbass males already…
Abe · January 22, 2025 at 10:11 pm
So in FL. is it the law to inform the officer if they specifically ask if you have a gun in the car?
Divemedic · January 23, 2025 at 8:06 am
You just can’t lie.
Wilson · January 23, 2025 at 11:35 am
You can’t lie to l e o , but they can lie to you.
Tree Mike · January 22, 2025 at 11:12 pm
Siiiiiighhhhh, SMH.
Dan D. · January 22, 2025 at 11:16 pm
I watched all three of the Axon feeds yesterday and had some questions.
First, I feel bad for the cop pulling the weapon out of his IWB holster. She was at the wrong angle and thus, so was her hand. A ND was not surprising since de-holstering a weapon in carry condition 1 is “zero inches from bang.” And why the RSOs in most indoor ranges won’t allow you to train that way.
Second, I asked an LE buddy what the f’in deal was with the crappy “slide on” TQ. He answered the CAT-7 windlass type are set up pre-sized for the LE officer with a possible bumb arm. Which makes sense to me. I’m still a fan of the ratchet TQs by the way since I saw a video of a guy with no arm below the elbow installing one on his other arm.
Third, I thought it was smart they cut down his pajamas to expose the wound. That allowed them to assess TQ tension (which you surely watched the painful application of) and dress it to the best of their abilities in that field.
I hold no opinion on the decisions prior to the ND but for average LE I think these guys did the best they could. Dude didn’t bleed out at the scene. Lots to learn here; take it in so if you’re in the same situation you can have your wits about you.
Joe · January 23, 2025 at 11:49 am
if the person ain’t screaming when you crank that tq down, you ain’t doing it right and the person is still bleeding
Nuke Road Warrior · January 23, 2025 at 7:23 am
No mention by the Sheriff that Arrington received a life threatening injury requiring a tourniquet to stop an arterial bleed. If EMS had been slower on the scene he would have died.
WallPhone · January 24, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Do live in a required to notify state, and luckily the only two instances had to, wasn’t asked to disarm.
If I were asked, however, I’d only do so if one of the “under arrest/detained” questions is yes, and I’d request the officer to place themsel(ves) in whatever “position of advantage” appropriate for me to do so myself. If that includes being at gunpoint, a supervisor will be requested.
Weapon will be holstered, placed visible on dash, and vehicle locked immediately at exit as you can see in the “flex your rights” video on how to handle a traffic stop.
Steady Steve · January 26, 2025 at 3:42 pm
All successful lawsuits against individual police or departments should be paid 50/50 out of the department budget and police pension program. That should cut down on most of the BS.
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