On October 31, 2022, James Hodges, a blind Navy veteran, was walking home from jury duty in Lake City, Florida, when Columbia County Deputy Jayme Gohde stopped him. Gohde asked what was in Hodges’ back pocket, and despite it clearly being a walking stick, she wrongly assumed it was a firearm. Ignoring Hodges’ legal blindness and his attempts to show her the walking stick, Gohde escalated the situation by calling for backup.
Sergeant Randall Harrison arrived, and despite Hodges demonstrating that it was just a walking stick, both officers ignored the evidence and continued to harass him. The situation grew tense when Hodges refused to give his ID, asserting that there was no reasonable suspicion for a stop. Both officers then decided to arrest Hodges for “”””resisting arrest without violence,”””” based on his perceived “”””disrespect.””””
The bodycam footage revealed that the officers’ actions were not only unjust but fueled by a sense of power and control. Hodges, who had committed no crime, was held in jail for over 24 hours.
The aftermath was equally troubling. Sergeant Harrison was demoted and suspended for seven days, while Deputy Gohde was placed on administrative leave with pay and suspended for two days. This incident sheds light on police misconduct and the abuse of authority, highlighting how a blind man was unjustly treated due to officer bias and lack of proper training.
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