JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Action News investigates how officers make decisions on whether to arrest someone.
"They're the ones that decide. It's one of the most powerful positions in the country. They get to determine without input from anyone else on an arrest," said attorney Dale Carson.
Action News went to Carson after several recent arrests had us questioning the way police make decisions to take someone to jail. First, we asked about the case of Rose Green. She was arrested in Nassau County for breaking into a home, and trying to kidnap a baby. She was only given a citation at first. "It was sufficient to put someone in jail instantly," said Carson.
Action News did some digging and found out she's broken into homes before. Just a month ago, she was arrested in Jacksonville for doing it. It took the Nassau County Sheriff's Office several more days to arrest her.
Then there's the high school principal arrested in Clay County for DUI on the spot. That was after blowing a .000 on two breathalizer tests.
The third case was an Action News photographer who was attacked outside a local restaurant. "The individual should've been arrested for aggravated battery," said Carson. But the man wasn't.
Carson says the differences send a bad message, but he admits bad judgement calls can be made on any given day. "Do you think mistakes are made," asked Action News. "Yes, they're human," said Carson.
The sheriff in Nassau County is doing an internal investigation as to why the woman was not arrested at first. As for the principal in Clay County, he did submit to a urine test and denies he was driving under the influence.
