A sergeant in the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in central Florida was arrested after surveillance footage showed him allegedly assaulting an elderly couple at a local bar. Jason Stickels, 44, faces two felony battery charges against persons over age 65 following the incident that occurred Monday afternoon at Merk's Bar & Grill.
Incident Details and Video
According to a statement from the Volusia Sheriff's Office, Stickels was off duty when he "made unwanted contact with an elderly couple seated near the bar." Surveillance video released by authorities shows Stickels standing between the couple before leaning toward the woman, who backed away and stood up from her chair. The woman told police that the officer attempted to kiss her.
The situation escalated when the victim's 77-year-old husband intervened to confront the sergeant. Video captures Stickels charging at the man and grabbing him by the neck seconds after a waitress stepped between them. At that moment, an observer seated at a nearby table jumped from behind and immobilized Stickels with a chokehold, taking him to the ground until he was subdued.
Sheriff's Reaction and Employment Consequences
Mike Chitwood, elected sheriff of Volusia County since 2016, issued a public statement strongly criticizing Stickels' actions. In a social media post, Chitwood wrote: "How to destroy your career as a law enforcement officer in two minutes. Off duty, stumbling drunk, harassing people who just want to enjoy their afternoon." The sheriff also offered apologies to the couple affected by behavior described as "idiotic", as we reported in Florida Executes Two Men in One Day.
Following the incident, Stickels was immediately placed on administrative leave and required to turn over all his law enforcement equipment while final discipline is determined, which could result in termination. When officers from the New Smyrna Beach Police Department arrived at the scene around 4:20 p.m., video indicates that Stickels said "you know who I am" and showed his badge before being arrested.
Local Context
This incident has generated a strong reaction in the local community, highlighting the ethical standards expected of police officers in Florida. Although no serious physical injuries were reported to the elderly victims, the use of surveillance video as key evidence underscores the importance of public transparency in cases involving active or off-duty agents.
