Florida Deputy Opens Fire On His Own Car After Mistaking Acorn For Gunshots

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A Florida sheriff’s deputy recently made headlines after body cam footage revealed a startling incident. The deputy, Jesse Hernandez, mistook an acorn hitting his patrol car for gunfire, leading to a dramatic and potentially dangerous response.

Body Cam Footage Reveals Startling Incident

The video, released just recently, captures the moment when Hernandez and his partner detained a man for allegedly sending threatening texts. All seemed to be going well until Hernandez appeared to hear what he perceived as a shot being fired. This led to a frantic reaction as he drew his weapon and started firing multiple shots at his own patrol car, with the detained man, Marquis Jackson, inside.

Overreaction and Investigation

Despite Jackson being unarmed and restrained, Hernandez’s overreaction was evident. The subsequent investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office concluded that his use of deadly force was not reasonable. Hernandez ended up resigning from his position, and no criminal charges were filed against him.

Aftermath and Response

Following the incident, Jackson expressed the impact of the ordeal on him, stating that he was “damaged” from what he went through. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office expressed thankfulness that Jackson wasn’t injured and acknowledged the traumatic nature of the situation for all involved. They also mentioned incorporating the incident into their training to prevent similar occurrences in the future.