Jury returns favorable verdict for Fort Myers police officers accused of excessive force by Lehigh Acres man

The jury has reached a verdict in a federal use of force trial against the Fort Myers Police Department.

The jurors reached a favorable verdict for two officers sued by Holley Jones after a 2018 encounter led to him getting tasered.

The verdict came after close to three hours of deliberations.

The incident happened at a 7-Eleven in Lee County in 2018. It was captured on the officers’ bodycams.

Jones filed a lawsuit against officers Andrew Barlow and Christian Robles.

The trial lasted three days. Jurors have heard from both Barlow, Robles and Jones.

Jones testified the officers had no reason to tase him because they had no reason to detain him.

The two officers were called to investigate a disorderly and intoxicated man at the gas station.

Robles testified that Jones did not match the description of the man they were searching for. Robles was the first responding officer, but not the one tased Jones.

On Wednesday, Barlow, the officer who tased Jones, testified and defended his actions on the stand.

Jones was arrested for breach of the peace and obstructing without violence but those charges were later dismissed by the State Attorney’s Office.

The Fort Myers Police Department cleared both officers after its investigation.

Although the officers are relieved to have this weight off their shoulders, their attorney said officer Barlow, a rookie at the time, still carries it with him

“It’s made him more reluctant and that kind of worries me. He got hurt because he got in a physical altercation with somebody instead of using his taser and that would’ve been his option in this case to run in there and tackle the guy. I think it’s good to show that the community the jurors were standing behind the police in this case.”

Jones said while he’s disappointed he didn’t win the suit, he walks away with feeling heard and with dignity, unlike he did on April 15, 2018.

“I wanted to be heard. That’s it I wanted to be heard and respected just like anyone else that was shopping in a public conveyance that day,” said Jones.

Jones and his attorneys said they are still figuring out if they want to appeal this decision.

They believe they have a legal basis to do so.

As for the officers, they remained employed by FMPD throughout the whole process and will be back on the job on Friday.