Academic

Cop's son caught sucker-punching homeless man

An arrest warrant has been issued for the son of a Sanford police lieutenant, almost three weeks after a video camera captured him throwing a sucker-punch at a homeless man and breaking his nose.

Justin Collison is wanted on a charge of aggravated battery.

A video shot by a witness earlier this month in downtown Sanford, shows Collison attacking Sherman Ware and then punching another man. The video shows Ware trying to break up a fight on the sidewalk when Collison walks up behind him and punches Ware in the back of the head.

Police officers responding to the Dec. 4 attack didn't arrest Collison. Acting Sanford police chief Capt. Jerry Hargrett said officers made "blatant" policy violations that night, including not handcuffing Collison or patting him down.

Officer Samuel McNeil wrote in his report that he did not arrest the lieutenant's son because Ware gave no sworn written statement and that Collison and his friend, Eric Lassady, who was also involved in the bar fight, gave conflicting accounts.

The arrest warrant was issued after Orlando television station WFTV aired footage of the attack.

Read the Orlando Sentinel reports here and here.

Full post as published by the 13th juror on December 31, 2010 (boomark / email).