Florida cop tickets black man for walking without identification

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

A Jacksonville, Florida, police officer ticketed a black man for walking without identification.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer J.S. Bolen accused Devonte Shipman and his friend of jaywalking, according to a video that was posted to Shipman’s Facebook account on June 20.

At the beginning of the video, Shipman asks the officer what he has done wrong, to which Bolen replies, “Take your camera and point it across there at the red hand,” saying that Shipman and his friend crossed against the light.

The officer then tells Shipman to go to the police car, and when Shipman at first refuses, Bolen says, “I’m about to put you in jail.”

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When Shipman approaches the car, Bolen then asks for identification. Shipman replies that he had no ID on him, and Bolen says, “That’s another infraction. In the state of Florida, you have to have an ID card on you identifying who you are or I can detain you for seven hours until I figure out who you are.”

However, that is simply not the case. If Shipman had been driving a vehicle, yes, he would have needed ID, according to Florida Statute 322.15, but he was simply walking, and a pedestrian is not legally required to carry ID.

Shipman was fined for failing to obey a pedestrian control signal, which is $62.50, and drivers license not carried/exhibited on demand (322.15), $136.

The video is reportedly being reviewed, but Bolen is not currently under investigation for the matter.

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