JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville Sheriff's officer is facing charges as he's accused of pepper spraying and beating an inmate at the Duval County Jail, JSO Undersheriff Shawn Coarsey announced during a press conference on Monday.
Officer Jordan Weiss, 22, was arrested on Saturday on one count of official misconduct which is a third-degree felony, and one count of misdemeanor battery, marking the third JSO officer arrested by the agency just this year.
Coarsey said the incident happened while Weiss was on duty at the jail on March 13.
Around 11 p.m., Weiss discovered an inmate engaging in a "sexually inappropriate act" in front of a civilian employee.
Weiss gave the inmate two verbal orders to stop, according to Coarsey, and the inmate hid in a different area of the dorm.
Weiss called for the inmate to stop hiding and then searched for him in the dorm.
After locating the inmate, Weiss pepper sprayed and intentionally beat him multiple times.
Coarsey said the inmate was not actively resisting Weiss at the time of the alleged assault.
The inmate did not suffer significant injuries and received a medical assessment before he was returned to his dorm.
According to Coarsey, the inmate didn't file a use of force complaint and the matter was discovered by JSO's Professional Oversight Unit.
A resistance report was filed, and Weiss gave a recount of his version of the incident.
"Members of the Professional Oversight Unit noted discrepancies between Weiss' characterization of this use of force and other evidence," Coarsey said.
After this discovery, the matter was transferred to JSO's Internal Affairs Unit and Integrity Unit which investigates potential criminal violations by public officials.
"We are always deeply disappointed when a member of this agency violates the law," said Coarsey. "Our collective belief in accountability outweighs any personal allegiance to JSO employees. No one is above the law."
JSO is conducting an internal investigation into Weiss, who was immediately suspended without pay, according to Coarsey.
Weiss has been employed by JSO for one year and one month.
"While there is due process that needs to be followed, the agency is moving toward termination of Weiss," Coarsey said.
JSO is not identifying the inmate involved due to privacy rights. The State Attorney's Office will handle Weiss' prosecution.
Weiss' arrest comes less than two weeks after former JSO officer Josue Garriga was arrested in Clay County on child sex crimes charges.