Nationwide — Freddie and Navongela Jackson, an African American couple from Marion County, Florida, were both handcuffed on their own property after a sheriff’s deputy accused them of trespassing. The incident, caught on body camera, raised questions about racial profiling and police conduct.
Freddie and Navongela Jackson say they were sitting in their car on their property in Flemington when Deputy Riley Artman approached and asked for their ID and proof of ownership. Freddie showed his ID with his address, but the deputy still told him to get back inside the car, according to WCJB.
Despite confirming that Jackson lived there, Deputy Artman handcuffed him and put him in the back of his patrol car. Freddie expressed shock, saying, “You done ran my name and my tag, knowing I stay here and this is my property. Wow, you still put me in the handcuffs and the police car.”
Body camera footage shows the deputy checking the property permit and then releasing Jackson after a short detention. Navongela believes the encounter was racially motivated. She said, “You see two Black people in an old car by a new building, and you think they don’t belong there.”
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the situation. It remains unclear if the deputy’s actions will be reviewed for policy violations. Meanwhile, the Jacksons have contacted a lawyer and plan to file a lawsuit.