Jackson County Residents Demand Justice for Alleged Victim of Wrongful Arrest

JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Civil rights advocates called a news conference Monday to demand justice for a man they say was wrongfully arrested.

“A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

The Jackson County NAACP chapter and community members said they want justice for Ervin Mathis, 61.

On July 4, 2022, Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a domestic disturbance call showed up at Mathis’ door. The physically disabled man told deputies they had gone to the wrong house, but they took him into custody anyway.

“They made a mistake by grabbing him and dragging him on the ground, handcuffing him and throwing him in the back of the car. The only thing they thought they could do was arrest him. I truly believe that after they arrested him, they came back and realized they had made a mistake,” said Landry, chairman of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Florida State Conference of the NAACP.

Several Jackson County residents said the use of force captured on police body cameras was unnecessary. Some believe it led to Mathis' death five months later.

“They found Mr. Mathis dead on the porch of his trailer, and we were dealing with an unattended death,” Landry said.

Jackson County Sheriff Donnie Edenfield said his deputies worked with the information they had at the time of the incident.

“They responded to the address that had been called to 911, that particular call, at the end of the day, there was no lady in that house. But the information we had at that time indicated that there was someone in the house, come get me, I beat my wife,” Edenfield said.

He also said they followed proper protocols.

“A domestic call is usually the number one call that deputies end up getting shot on, so they couldn’t let him go back there,” Edenfield said.

NAACP calls for investigation into sheriff's office.

“We are calling for an investigation into the habits and practices of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office,” Landry added.

Edenfield said he had nothing to hide.

“I would like the Justice Department, or anyone else who wants to look at this, to move forward. We have nothing to hide. Absolutely nothing,” Edenfield said.

Monday was the first time Edenfield publicly commented on the Mathis incident. He has twice ignored requests from Jackson County commissioners to attend a commission meeting to discuss residents' complaints.

“My decision not to appear before the county commission was based on respect for the family and the fact that the U.S. Attorney's Office was already investigating this matter,” Edenfield said.

The NAACP is holding a public meeting on the matter Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m.