A routine traffic stop in Jacksonville, Florida, took an unexpected turn when Officer Mindy Cardwell accidentally shot a driver with his own gun. The incident, which occurred on December 13, has sparked controversy and an internal investigation at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO).
The chain of events began when Jason Arrington, 39, was pulled over for running a red light. Arrington, fully cooperative with the officers, disclosed that he had a firearm holstered in his waistband. Body camera footage revealed that Arrington complied with the officers’ instructions and exited his vehicle when asked.
While frisking Arrington, Officer Cardwell attempted to remove the firearm from his waistband. During the process, the gun discharged, striking Arrington in the upper thigh. The bullet passed through his leg, causing a serious arterial bleed.
Officers on the scene immediately acted, using a tourniquet to stabilize Arrington and slow the bleeding before transporting him to the hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery but has filed a lawsuit against the JSO, citing lasting injuries that have affected his work as a crane operator.
An internal investigation by the JSO’s Internal Affairs division determined that Officer Cardwell had acted incompetently during the stop. The department has moved to terminate her employment.
This incident has raised questions about firearm safety during police interactions and highlighted the risks faced by both officers and civilians during routine traffic stops.
