JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Standing in front of the steps of the Duval County Courthouse, Diamonds Ford is ready to move on with her life after 2nd degree attempted murder charges against her were dropped.
"I'm grateful that the charges are dropped, it's been hell. I couldn't work due to the charges," said Ford.
Ford worked as a pharmacist tech prior to being charged with 2nd degree attempted murder and drug charges for firing a gun and hitting a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office SWAT officer during the execution of a search warrant in September of 2020. She hopes to return to her career as a pharmacist tech and her lawyers hope to apply to FDLE to have the charges expunged.
"This matter uprooted her life," said Ford's attorney Stephen Kelly. "She's innocent, we're here celebrating the fact that these charges have been dropped but also change in policy for SWAT warrants."
According to the State Attorney's Office it was determined that JSO SWAT's tactics were conducted in compliance with JSO policy and Florida Law. Still, Ford didn't expect her charges to be dropped.
"I'm black, I didn't expect these charges to be dropped," said Ford.
The State Attorney's Office dropped charges against Diamonds Ford and Anthony Gantt because two of the officers in the DEA task force that led the investigation that called for the SWAT raid - Darrell Hickox and Joshua Earrey - are accused of stealing money and drugs from evidence rooms that were seized during investigations and having confidential sources resell those drugs for a profit.
Based on the charges against Hickox and Earrey the state said that neither officer could be used as witnesses against Ford and Gantt. The state also said that the charges against them raised questions on the reasons behind executing the search warrant that led to the shooting in the first place.
The JSO officer who was shot by Ford has recovered and returned to work in a full duty capacity. JSO provided the following statement regarding charges against Ford and Gantt being dropped:
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is deeply disappointed by the criminal conduct of the two non-JSO law enforcement officers that has resulted in this outcome. These officers’ criminal actions have left prosecutors with no option other than to dismiss the charges against Diamonds Ford and Anthony Gantt. JSO continues to stand in solidarity with our officer who was wounded in the line of duty by the Ford and Gantt’s criminal actions. The realities of the criminal justice system sometimes result in circumstances in which justice cannot be achieved. Nonetheless, JSO will continue to support our officer and hold criminals accountable who harm members of our agency.