Cop punches man in road-rage fight

A Florida sheriff who trespassed and punched a driver in the face during a road-rage fight will not face criminal charges or lose his job – despite 13 citizen complaints filed against him in 12 years.

Jacksonville sheriff Sgt. Roderic Feacher, a 12-year veteran, was given a 10-day suspension without pay Oct. 29 after he assaulted another driver, the Florida Times-Union reported. Feacher claims a man attempted to run him off the road in April when he was driving his personal vehicle with his 8-year-old son inside.

The off-duty officer put his car in reverse and pursued the driver, Charles Rowe, until the two reached Rowe's home. Feacher then left his son in his car, saying he was going to "educate" Rowe. He said he was a law enforcement officer, but he refused to provide his name and failed to show a badge.

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According to an internal affairs review, Feacher would not leave the property when told to do so. Rowe and a neighbor claim the officer began punching the man without provocation and choked him. However, the officer claims Rowe "belly-bumped" him, so he only threw one punch.

Internal affairs administrators decided a battery reprimand would be reduced to disorderly conduct, improper action and unbecoming conduct, the Times-Union reported.

In a letter, Chief Wayne Clark wrote that the incident "demonstrated gross incompetence" and "put the agency in a position of ridicule."

Feacher received formal counseling in 2000 – also for unbecoming conduct.

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