Jacksonville FOP ‘confident’ investigation into incident that led to inmate’s death will ‘exonerate’ officers involved

 Jacksonville FOP ‘confident’ investigation into incident that led to inmate’s death will ‘exonerate’ officers involved

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police shared a statement on Wednesday regarding the ongoing investigation into an incident that led to an inmate’s death. The death resulted in nine Duval County jail officers being removed from their positions.

RELATED | ‘Justice for Charles’: Family of man killed after incident in Duval County jail speaks at peaceful protest

Lodge-30 Fraternal Order of Police President Randy Reaves said in the statement he is “confident” the investigation into Charles Faggart’s death will “exonerate the nine officers” who are currently being investigated in the April 7 incident.

Read the full statement below

“The FOP joins Sheriff Waters in his desire to pursue an in-depth, speedy, and comprehensive investigation by federal and local agencies to determine the facts leading up to and including the incident involving our nine Corrections Officers and Mr. Faggart.

We are confident the investigation, based on facts and evidence, will exonerate the nine officers. JSO Corrections Officers are well trained professionals who dutifully follow established policies and procedures established by federal, state, and local authorities.

We want to caution the public rushing to judgment based on social media speculation concerning the incident involving Mr. Faggart who was incarcerated at the Duval County jail.

We share in the community’s anticipation and the revelations of pending reports from the Medical Examiner’s office as well as other agencies investigating this incident.”

Randy Reaves, President

The FOP’s statement comes two days after the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released a partially redacted report and the names of the nine officers involved in the incident.

“As we understand that a critical incident such as this generates questions and concerns, we want our community to have all the available information as soon as possible while maintaining the integrity of the criminal investigation. To that end, the information in the report has been redacted to maintain the integrity of the investigation,” Sheriff T.K. Waters said in a statement that was published along with the report.

Belkis Plata, the attorney representing Faggart’s family, called the release of the “heavily redacted” report “unacceptable,” and said the family was not notified prior to it being published.

“The fact that this is the narrative being presented to the public, while the family continues to sit in the dark, is devastating,” the family’s statement says in part.

The report indicates that the incident began around 7 a.m. on Monday, April 7.

However, Plata said on Monday that Faggart’s family did not receive a call from JSO until the next day, around 6 p.m., “when a JSO detective simply told them to ‘watch the news.’”

Faggart was transported to a hospital in critical condition following the incident. He died days later.

A day before Faggart’s death, Sheriff T.K. Waters said he formally requested the Jacksonville Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to help investigate the incident.

According to JSO, once the criminal investigation ends, the sheriff’s office will also administratively review the incident to determine if policies and/or procedures were followed correctly by staff.

News4JAX reached out to JSO to ask if there were any updates in the investigation, and responded, “When more information becomes available, it will be disseminated.”

News4JAX also reached out to the family’s attorney on Wednesday following the FOP’s statement, and we are still waiting to hear back.

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Who is Charles Faggart and what else is known about his in-custody death in Jacksonville?

Portrait of Scott ButlerScott Butler

Jacksonville Florida Times-Union

Charles Faggart, owner of Chop It Charlie’s, died in custody at the Duval County jail after an incident involving nine corrections officers.

Faggart was arrested on April 1 for domestic assault and criminal mischief and died on April 10.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office requested FBI assistance in the investigation and has not released details about the incident.

Faggart's girlfriend alleges he was beaten while in custody.

The Sheriff’s Office says it is committed to transparency but will not release details until the investigation is complete.

As details trickle down about the in-custody death of the popular owner of Chop It Charlie’s, 31-year-old Charles Faggart, one thing is clear.

“Charles was harmed while in a place where he should have been safe,” a GoFundMe for the family and 6-year-old son, Lincoln, said. “… Charles has always been known for his big heart, his flavorful food, and the joy he brought to others.”

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and its jail have been scrutinized before for excessive force, so a lot of attention is being given to this case.

What is the timeline of events involving Charles Faggart?

Faggart was charged on April 1 with simple domestic assault and criminal mischief in lieu of $8,500 bail. The incident with jail guards happened on April 7.

His bond was reduced on April 8. That same day Sheriff T.K. Waters conducted a hastily called news briefing providing limited details about an inmate being badly injured and advising the public that nine corrections employees have been stripped of their authority pending the criminal and administrative investigations.

On April 9 the sheriff announced he formally requested the assistance of the FBI in the investigation.

On April 10 Faggart died.

How did Charles Faggart die?

The Sheriff’s Office referred to it as a “brain death” that the Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause.

The family’s attorney, Belkis Plata, had initially said he was on a ventilator and not likely to live. After he was pronounced dead at 2:11 p.m. April 10, she said he had been “brain dead” since the incident.

Faggart’s girlfriend told Action News Jax he was beaten.

Who were the corrections officers suspended in the Charles Faggart case?

On April 14 the Sheriff's Office released a heavily redacted incident report and identified the members as Sgt. W.H. Cox and Officers T.C. Pennamon, G.L. Mckinnis, D.D. Thomas, M.E. Sullivan, P.L. Collins, A.K. Maygoo, E. Kurtovic and J.J. Bullard.

What are the jail officers' histories prior to the Jacksonville inmate's death?

"Employee administrative investigation history" reports on the nine officers show no complaints against Bullard, Collins, Maygoo, Pennamon and Thomas.

The sergeant, William Cox, has the most extensive disciplinary record with six complaints listed. Here's a brief summary that the Sheriff's Office provided.

Feb. 17, 2023: Citizen complaint, failure to conform to work standards. Sustained, received formal counseling.

Nov. 15, 2022: Citizen complaint, failure to conform to work standards and unnecessary force. Sustained for work standards and not sustained for unnecessary force, received formal counseling.

Feb. 4, 2022: Citizen complaint, failure to conform to work standards. Not sustained.

Aug. 19, 2021: In-house complaint, violation of response to resistance policy. Sustained, received a written reprimand.

Jan. 18, 2020: In-house complaint, failure to conform to work standards. Sustained, received written reprimand.

March 26, 2018: In-house complaint, failure to conform to work standards. Sustained, received informal counseling.

What is the timeline during the actual incident that led to Charles Faggart's death?

Charles Faggart, 31, was arrested April 1, 2025, on Jacksonville charges of simple domestic battery and criminal mischief. After an incident with several officers on April 7 he was hospitalized and died April 10.

The substantially redacted report gives this timeline. Note that initials are used for first names and in a couple of cases there wasn't one:

7 a.m. — Sgt. W. Cox and Officers E. Kurtovic, J. Vertus and M. Lane escorted inmate Faggart into 6W-2A with one-piece restraints behind his back. He was displaying aggressive, erratic and disruptive behavior by thrashing his body, clenching his fist and pushing and pulling. Sgt. Cox deemed him a threat to himself, others and property and that he be placed in the restraint safety chair. But due to his increasingly aggressive behavior by kicking and thrashing, he was unable to be secured in the chair.

7:05 a.m. — Cox did something that was redacted.

7:07 a.m. — Officer A. Maygoo arrived and the officers continued to attempt to secure Faggart in the safety restraint chair, but he continued to resist. Cox again did something that was redacted. Faggart started to calm down. Officer J. Clifton arrived with a spit mask and placed it on Faggart and he was secured in the chair with the one-piece restraints still on. Cox notified Lt. S. Wesley via his radio.

7:12 a.m. — Wesley arrived.

7:24 a.m. — Mental Health Director Webb arrived and began evaluating the inmate. Faggart verbalized to her that he did fentanyl, and she deemed him fit to be placed in self-harm housing and advised Cox she would complete the paperwork.

7:28 a.m. — Nurse Morris arrived and began medically evaluating Faggart. Morris flushed his eyes with saline solution and deemed him medically fit to remain in the restraint safety chair.

8:39 a.m. — Webb and Nurse Scott arrived and began evaluating him, at which point Faggart did something redacted.

8:42 a.m. — Sgt. K. Clarida and Officers C. Morgan, P. Collins, M. Sullivan, Bullard, Kurtovic, Cox and the reporting "close supervision officer" T.C. Pennamon arrived and the spit mask was removed.

8:43 a.m. — Baldwin, recruit M. Prendergast, Officer G. McKinnis and provider Lamier along with medical staff arrived.

8:46 a.m. — Lt. L. Dickens arrived.

8:48 a.m. — Lamier did something redacted.

8:50 a.m. — Cox deemed Faggart to be removed from the restraint chair.

8:51 a.m. Kurtovic, Bullard, Collins, Sullivan, Pennamon and Officer D. Thomas removed him from the chair. Once removed, he was escorted to Cell #25 by Kurtovic, Collins, Maygoo, Thomas, Sullivan, McKinnis and Pennamon under the supervision of Cox. At that point a large section of the report is blacked out. The next line states Cox deemed it necessary for Faggart to be placed in the restraint chair again for the safety of himself, others and property.

8:55 a.m. — Kurtovic, Sullivan, Bullard, Thomas, McKinnis, Collins, Maygoo and Pennamon began placing him back in the chair, and Cox placed a spit mask on him.

8:57 a.m. — As he was still being placed in the chair, Sullivan did something redacted.

9 a.m. — Wesley and medical staff showed up again.

9:01 a.m. — Chief P. Restivo arrived.

9:05 a.m. — The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department arrived.

9:10 a.m. — Faggart was placed on a stretcher by rescue personnel who installed the Lucas Compression Device to continue delivering chest compressions, and he was taken to UF Health Shands. No add-on charges were placed against Faggart. Pennamon did report he injured an ankle. 

What did Charles Faggart do to get arrested?

Officers were called to Savannah Storie’s apartment about 5:30 a.m. on April 1 for a domestic incident. Storie, 31, told officers she and Faggart don’t live together but have been in a relationship since 2023 and she’s two weeks pregnant with their child.

She said he was with her for most of the night but left at some time and returned about 4 a.m. highly intoxicated. She said an argument ensued and he started threatening her, saying “I will shoot you in the face, and I will shoot anyone you call on me,” according to the incident report.

She said she asked him several times if he had a gun, but he refused to answer. Storie also showed police her cellphone video of the argument.

Storie said her children were sleeping during the incident.

Faggart denied making any threats and said in slurred speech that he only had four beers, according to the report. Because of the nature of the threats, he was taken into custody.

What did Charles Faggart’s girlfriend say after his death?

Storie spoke with Action News Jax the evening of his death.

“I had received a call from the jail and an inmate told me that there had been an incident that occurred,” she told the station. “As far as I know, he was beaten so badly that the family said that he was unrecognizable.”

She said he had some demons and was battling addiction issues. He wasn’t in the right state of mind.

“I loved him so much and I only wanted him to get help,” she said. “I never meant for this to happen. I didn’t want him to get hurt. And I feel so guilty.”

Storie blames the Sheriff’s Office.

“He should have been in detox or in a psych hold rather than beaten to death,” she said. “That is not a solution.”

What did the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office say after Charles Faggart’s death became public?

In a statement issued at 5 p.m. April 11, the Sheriff’s Office said the following:

“Detectives continue to work diligently to gain a complete understanding of the facts and circumstances that led to the brain death of Charles Faggart after the April 7th incident at the Duval County Jail. This is an active, dynamic investigation that requires, amongst other things, the opinion of the Office of the Medical Examiner.  JSO will conduct a thorough, complete, and comprehensive investigation in this case, as it does in every death investigation. Detectives have and will continue to remain in communication with the family through its attorney.

“Transparency is a priority for JSO,” the statement continued. “However, that priority does not supersede the agency’s commitment to maintain the integrity of criminal investigations.  Once Sheriff Waters has answers, he will provide those answers to the Faggart family.  Once the criminal case is completed, Sheriff Waters will share the details of this death investigation publicly.”

What does the Fraternal Order of Police say about Jacksonville's jail death?

On April 16 the president of the police union in Jacksonville, Randy Reaves, released a statement cautioning the public about rushing to judgment.

"We are confident the investigation, based on facts and evidence, will exonerate the nine officers," his statement read. "JSO corrections officers are well-trained professionals who dutifully follow established policies and procedures established by federal, state and local authorities."

Have people rallied for Charles Faggart?

Tracey Karpas, mother of 31-year-old Charles Faggart, owner of Chop It Charlie’s food truck, who died in custody at the Duval County jail April 10 after being arrested on April 1 for domestic assault and criminal mischief. Karpas and other family members spoke during a peaceful demonstration on April 13, demanding justice for Faggart and others who've died while in Jacksonville Sheriff's Office custody. The demonstration was held on the steps of Jacksonville Sheriff's Office headquarters at the Police Memorial Building, 501 E. Bay St. in downtown Jacksonville.

About 70 people, including Faggart's mother, Tracey Karpas, and Caitlyn Benz, the mother of his 6-year-old son, rallied outside the Sheriff's Office on April 13. It was organized by the Jacksonville Community Action Committee.

"I don't want any of this to be political, and I want no violence whatsoever," Karpas said to the crowd in tears. "The only reason I'm here is so that everybody knows what a wonderful human being my son was, and that this should never happen to anybody. Regardless of what they did to get in there, this should never happen to anybody. I am so thankful for the 31 years I got with him, but I should have gotten at least 31 more. And I'm sorry, I can't speak any more."

How did Charles Faggart get started in business?

Faggart was featured Sept. 5, 2023, in a First Coast Living segment as part of First Coast News.

Chop It Charlie’s started as a hotdog stand in 2019 and morphed into a food trailer serving burgers, cheese steaks and wraps. Faggart’s cheese steaks became his selling card, though.

He said he got the idea through a friend who working in California and she was actually a personal chef for one of the creators of the “Rick and Morty” animated science fiction sitcom. Faggart said he asked how she got started.

“She was like you literally just start it,” he said. “You need no licensing to go into other people’s home and cook for them. So that’s what I did, I just started advertising myself. I was working at Cowford Chophouse at the time, and I just started doing that on the side.

“I always had the goal of opening up the food truck,” he continued, “so I just saved up my money, did the research and figured out I could open up a hotdog stand for 1,500 bucks as opposed to the thousands of dollars to open up the food truck.”

Faggart said the first event he ever did was outside a Florida-Georgia game, so he made a lot of his money back.

“When I started, my goal wasn’t to be a cheese steak truck,” Faggart said. “I wanted to kind of have a revolving menu every week. People just kept buying the cheese steaks, it literally was the only thing that was selling. It wasn’t my goal, but Jacksonville pretty much forced me into being a cheese steak truck.”

He said Chop It Charlie’s spreads across town for everyone.

“We are all over Jax, we’re on social media, Instagram, Facebook, Chop It Charlie’s Jax,” he said. “We’re really never in the same place twice. We go all around town to events, private parties, we do private catering, sandwich platters, taco bars, pretty much you name it, we cook it.”

(This story will be occasionally updated with new developments.)