Trial in Fort Myers police excessive force case begins

Reporter: Dannielle Garcia Writer: Derrick Shaw
Published: Updated:
Still image from the body camera of a Fort Myers police officer during the April 15, 2018, incident involving Holley Jones.

The man who claims Fort Myers police officers used excessive force on him described what it felt like during trial on Tuesday.

Holley Jones is suing the Fort Myers police officers Andrew Barlow and Christian Robles for their encounter with him at a 7-Eleven in 2018.

The Fort Myers Police Department cleared both officers after its investigation and the officers’ attorneys said Jones is looking for a free ride with the lawsuit.

But Jones said the two officers had no reason to tase him.

The officers were responding to the gas station on a call for a “disorderly, intoxicated male.”

It is unknown if the call was about Jones.

Jones testified on Tuesday that he was inside speaking to the store clerk whom he knew when the officers entered the store.

Jones said he did not follow orders to leave the store because he wasn’t doing anything illegal.

He said being tased “felt tremendous.”

“The force knocked me to the ground,” he said. “It hurt.”

Jones’ attorney asked for a mistrial after the defense attorney, representing the officers, compared Jones to a “gorilla.”

The judge denied the motion.

The civil trial, in federal court, is expected to last a few more days.

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