Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters and three Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers are being sued by a Jacksonville man over a traffic stop that happened in May 2023.
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The lawsuit states plaintiff Joseph Bratcher was pulled over during a traffic stop on Canal Street North on May 17, 2023. Six officers responded to the scene, and one had a K9. Three of those officers are named in the lawsuit
Bratcher alleges one officer instructed the K9 handler to “release his dog” even though Bratcher did not “attempt to flee.”
The dog bit Bratcher on the arm, according to the lawsuit. Bratcher also alleges one of the defendants gave him “further commands to drag the dog towards him as the dog continued its bite on Bratcher’s arm.”
The lawsuit says the dog was biting Bratcher for over 30 seconds before officers manually released the K9.
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Bratcher said the bite caused scarring and disfigurement.
According to the lawsuit, Bratcher was arrested on charges of reckless driving and resisting an officer without violence to his or her person. On Aug. 7, 2023, the charges were dropped.
The lawsuit accused the officers of using excessive force and Sheriff Waters of battery.
Bratcher wants a jury trial.
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