A Florida police officer is facing termination after accidentally shooting a man with his own gun during a traffic stop. The incident occurred on December 13, when Officer Mindy Cardwell and another officer assisted in a traffic stop involving Jason Arrington, 39.
Arrington had been pulled over for running a red light, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Bodycam footage revealed Arrington was fully cooperative and disclosed he had a holstered firearm in his waistband, according to the New York Post.
Cardwell however accidentally discharged the firearm while attempting to remove it from Arrington, leaving him with a gunshot wound to the upper thigh. Officers quickly assisted Arrington, who was bleeding heavily.
READ ALSO: Elementary school teacher resigns after allegedly slapping student’s face to wake child up
Arrington suffered an arterial bleed when the bullet passed through his thigh. Officers applied a tourniquet before he was hospitalized and is now expected to recover.
However, Arrington has filed a lawsuit against the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, claiming lasting injuries have impacted his career as a crane operator.
An Internal Affairs investigation deemed Cardwell incompetent, leading to her termination proceedings.
