JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ronnie Reed shares that his experience with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has significantly impacted his life in a negative way. In the previous year, he was subjected to a strip search by police officers based on an allegation of cocaine selling.
However, no drugs or money were discovered on his person during the incident, which occurred on a public street in front of his family.
Reed, aged 46, expressed his struggles during an interview with First Coast News, On Your Side, stating, “It’s been a year of hardship, mental anguish, and emotional instability.”
Following his arrest, Reed claimed to have lost both his job and car, leaving him currently in a state of financial instability. The incident prompted an internal investigation within the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO).
On September 9, 2022, police body camera footage depicted an officer placing Reed in handcuffs. Reed recounted that he was enjoying a beer outdoors after work when the officer approached him.
The video shows Reed inquiring about the reason for the officer’s actions, to which the officer responded with a directive to “just relax” as he proceeded to handcuff Reed.
According to an arrest report, an undercover officer allegedly provided a homeless individual with $20 to purchase drugs. The report further claimed that Reed and the homeless man interacted. The authorities contended that the homeless man returned with crack cocaine, leading JSO to focus on Reed.
Despite this, no drugs or money were found on Reed. A subsequent body camera recording displayed an officer donning gloves and conducting a search, including the private area and rear end.
During this search, Reed can be heard expressing discomfort, while the police officer maintained their actions were justified. Reed even proposed conducting the search at the jail.
JSO officers suspected Reed of engaging in drug selling near a gas station on the 3000 block of Phillips Highway. The second video revealed additional officers present, with Reed’s family heard in the background. At one point, the officers instructed Reed to turn and lean forward, exposing his backside.
An officer can be heard stating, “He’s clenching hard, he’s got something up there,” suggesting they suspected Reed was concealing something.
In the present day, Reed shared that he feels uncomfortable being alone in public spaces and now prefers to have a companion when outside.
He expressed, “I definitely feel uneasy not being able to independently buy my grandchild a treat from the store without needing someone to accompany me.”
In April, Jacksonville attorney Curtis Falgatter, who is not connected to this case, commented to First Coast News, On Your Side, that he had never encountered a public strip search of this nature before.
He found the arrest to be unconventional and believed the search resembled more of a cavity search, which would require a warrant and typically occur at the Duval County Jail.
Falgatter explained, “While an arrest allows for a pat-down to check for weapons or drugs, conducting a full body strip search is not a standard procedure.”
When approached by First Coast News, JSO declined to comment, citing an ongoing administrative investigation. Reed is scheduled for another pre-trial on August 31. The State Attorney’s Office also refrained from providing a statement due to the ongoing nature of Reed’s case.
