A startling body camera video of a Florida sheriff’s deputy holding a pregnant woman at gunpoint during a traffic check last week as her three children hid inside the car has led to his resignation.
Last Friday night, when Ebony Washington was traveling from Gainesville to Jacksonville, Bradford County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason DeSue pulled her over.
The officer had pulled over four-months pregnant Washington for speeding. The mother-of-three eventually admitted to exceeding the speed limit by going 75 mph in a 55 mph zone.
But as soon as the police pulled her over, he pulled out his gun and pointed at the terrified mother, stating she had waited too long to halt.
However, the pregnant woman who slowed down and turned on her hazard lights said she was waiting to stop in a well-lit place for the protection of her children in the backseats. The cops themselves promote this method of behavior.
Despite this, DeSue threatened Washington, saying that if she moved, “that’ll be the last mistake you’re going to make” and that “he’d slam [her] into the ground.”
The situation was so tense that Washington instructed her terrified children to record it on a mobile phone; the family eventually shared the video on social media, where it was seen by the deputy’s superiors.
The office distanced itself from the deputy after publishing the video on Sunday, claiming they had “taken action” against him because of his “unacceptable” behavior and had “accepted his departure.”
DeSue had been on the force for two years, and according to the police, he had previously caused problems. Additionally, they have argued that the ex-actions deputy’s were not motivated by race because Washington is African-American.
The horror started when Desue saw Washington speeding and tried to slow it down by turning on the lights of his cruiser.
Washington continued to drive for several minutes after slowing down and turning on her hazard lights, claiming that she was attempting to stop in a well-lit place so that her three children in the backseat would feel secure.
The bodycam video, which was released by the department over the weekend, shows the deputy ordering Washington to stop as they slowly traveled down the road while shouting already harsh threats at the woman.
The terrifying clip shows DeSue threatening to “throw you into the ground” if the car isn’t pulled over.
Washington eventually stopped her car at a roadside gas station stop, got out, and tried to calmly explain her side of the events to the deputy while holding up her hands.
Despite telling Washington that she was four months pregnant and that she had children in the car, Desue nevertheless gave the impression that she didn’t care about his version of the events.
Desue pulled out his service weapon as soon as Washington got out of the car and pointed it in her direction.
While her children were filming the exchange, he told the mother, “Your excuse means nothing to me right now, I don’t want to hear it.”
In that video, one of the kids can be heard sobbing hysterically as the cop holds their mother at gunpoint before eventually handcuffing her.
Desue is seen restraining Washington in the bodycam video saying, “You make any movement that will be the final mistake you ever make, do not move.”
He can then be heard saying, “I ain’t worried, I got my pistol,” shortly after.
Desue eventually holstered his revolver after restraining Washington, and the very terrified mother, who admitted to speeding, keeps trying to explain what happened.
At one point in the conversation, Washington states, “I’m trying to tell you the sole reason why I didn’t quit.” “I have a master’s degree, and I am a very intelligent woman.
“I was just not because it is dark outside and I am carrying three children.” Because I’m expecting, I didn’t want them to be uncomfortable.
But Desue, who in the now-viral video appeared to be irrationally furious and irritable, wasn’t persuaded.
He commanded the handcuffed mother, “I don’t care about the why, shut up.” “Stop talking about the reason. Don’t worry about the reasons.
Washington finally received a speeding ticket and fled the scene, but as a result of the incident, he has since hired legal counsel and is thinking about pressing charges.
“I told him.” “Sir, I am pregnant. Four months into my pregnancy, “‘ In an interview with Good Morning America on Sunday, just after the Bradford County Sheriff’s office announced that Desue had left the force, Washington described the incident with tears in her eyes.
Sheriff Gordon Smith of Bradford County endorsed the mother’s choice to stop in a well-lighted area, saying: “She indicated to him she’s flashing lights to go to a lit area.”
“I want my wife to act in that way. I want my daughter to act in that way. If you feel unsafe, I want my neighbor to take that action.
Washington claimed that Desue was unnecessarily aggressive and intimidating during the stop, and that she worried for her safety.
She claimed that she believed he would actually toss her to the ground given how hard he was pulling her.
She maintains that the deputy’s remarks and actions were motivated by race, a charge that the sheriff’s office contends is untrue.
Colonel and Chief Deputy Brad Smith described the confrontation as “not at all a racial situation,” adding that Desue “is a man of color.”
Smith stated, “There was simply a degree of his not reacting to his training and ongoing discussions about how he was handling circumstances and he wasn’t adjusting to it.”
Desue’s actions did not follow the department’s regulations, according to a Bradford County Sheriff’s Office official, who also referred to his conduct as “inappropriate.”
The office also stated that they have previously had problems with him and that the cop had been in hot water, but they did not elaborate on the specifics of those transgressions.
Smith added, “The last time we had a problem with him, we got into what’s known as a “last chance” deal.” In essence, he presents his resignation.
And the sheriff can decide to accept that resignation if there are any other problems within a year, which is what happened in this case, Smith added.
“At the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office, we weren’t going to allow that. His verbal abuse was unbearable.”
Washington and her lawyer John Phillips, however, are not persuaded by the department’s assertions and insist that they will continue to pursue justice for the incident despite having spoken to the mayor.
The Mayor mentioned past problems with Desue in a conversation with Ms. Washington. He said in a statement to Action News Jax, “We have now discovered that he has resigned.
Justice is defined in a variety of ways despite having a same spelling. This is a step in the right direction. While Ms. Washington regrets speeding, everyone should be aware that it caused an aggressive cop to retire and a public figure to acknowledge a problem.