Citizens Demand Body Worn Cameras After Violent Arrest Video Emerges

BROOKSVILLE – Cellphone video has emerged that has some residents wondering if two Hernando County Sheriff's Deputies went too far in arresting a bicyclist over an equipment violation. Full Video

The incident took place around 10:30 p.m. on June 19th while Deputy Dennis Castillo was on patrol in the area US-41 and John Garry Grubbs Blvd. According to an arrest affidavit, Deputy Castillo conducted a traffic stop on a male subject riding a bicycle at the 7-Eleven located at 765 Broad Street due to the rider not having front or rear lights. Deputy Castillo was joined by a Deputy Matthew Beebe as backup.

While running the first subject's license to check for warrants, a second bicyclist pulled into the 7-Eleven who was also in violation of not having the proper equipment. Deputy Beebe ordered the subject, later identified as 43-year-old Jerry Dean Glisson to stop but Glisson replied, "I didn't do anything" and ignored Deputy Beebe's commands. As deputies began to approach Glisson, the witness Morgan White began recording video with his cellphone.

At the beginning of the video, one of the deputies yells at Glisson, stating, "Yo come here! You're gonna go to jail mother fucker. Come here right now." One of the deputies then says, "You know what, you're gonna find out what's bull shit in a minute." A few seconds later, the video starts again showing deputies "escorting" Glisson to the ground and a struggle ensues.

Deputy Beebe notes in his report that Glisson "Continued to physically resist with an extreme amount of violence" while they attempted to place him into custody. At one point video shows Deputy Castillo punching Glisson in the face, which caused lacerations and severe swelling. Deputy Beebe deployed less than pepper ball rounds to try and gain control of the suspect, but he still attempted to pick up his bicycle. Eventually, a third officer arrived on scene, and they were able to take Glisson into custody.

Deputy Castillo states that Glisson was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance and then booked into the Hernando County Jail. The severity of Glisson's injuries is unknown because they are not listed in Deputy Castillo's report.

Glisson is charged with two counts of Battery on Law Enforcement and three counts of resisting arrest without violence. Glisson remains behind bars on a $25,000 bond.

It should be noted that Glisson has a long history of drug and property crime arrests but no history of violent crime.

In the days following the incident, R New received numerous emails from angry citizens who say deputies used too much force in attempting to arrest Glisson for an equipment violation, which is civil, not criminal. Additionally, every email we received closed with similar statements calling for Sheriff Nienhuis to implement body-worn cameras (BWCs). Sheriff Al Nienhuis vehemently opposes the use of BWCs with his deputies.

R News reached out to the Sheriff's Office for comment, but we have not received a response.

Candidate for Sheriff Joe Puglia did respond and stated, "After reading the report deputies submitted, it is clear to me that they had probable cause to stop the defendant. I said this before, police work at times is not pretty to watch. What I find disturbing about this incident is the lack of body camera footage to protect our deputies from unjustified allegations. In addition, we have a duty and responsibility to make sure those individuals in our custody are treated appropriately and that only the force necessary is used to effect an arrest." Puglia goes on to say, "Now all we have to look at is cell phone video that is nowhere near the perspective given to us by body-worn cameras."