Florida Sheriff Apologizes to Blind Man After Deputies Mistook His White Cane for a Gun and Arrested Him

[ED: See our original post including bodycam video of this incident here.]

A Florida sheriff apologized this week after a legally blind man was arrested when deputies mistook his walking cane for a gun.

Deputy Jayme Gohde and her supervisor [Sgt. Randy Harrison] were suspended after arresting James Hodges, of Lake City on Oct. 31 for resisting an officer without violence, according to Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter.

“As sheriff, I take full responsibility for this event and want to extend my sincere apologies to Mr. Hodges for the actions of my deputies,” Hunter said Tuesday.

“I do not feel these deputies’ actions were guided by ill intent, but rather by frustration and failure to rely on their training. Nevertheless, this conduct is unacceptable.” …

Sheriff Hunter said the two deputies violated department policies and would undergo training after their suspensions. Charges against Hodges were dropped.

He made a formal complaint and told First Coast News he plans to file a lawsuit against the sheriff’s office.

— David Matthews, New York Daily News in Florida Sheriff Apologizes after Deputies Mistake Cane for Gun, Arrest Legally Blind Man