Ex-deputy turns himself in to face criminal charge in excessive use of force case

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — An ex-deputy will soon face a judge in St. Johns County for beating a man during a traffic stop back in December.

The incident was all caught on video.

Bystander video of the Dec. 29 incident has proven to be crucial in the case against 51-year-old Anthony DeLeo, a former St. Johns County deputy who prosecutors said is seen hitting and kicking 30-year-old Christopher Butler.

Action News Jax spoke to Butler’s mom back in January who said her son suffered a medical episode when he was pulled over.

The warrant affidavit said Butler was given verbal commands to get on the ground but didn’t comply, that’s when DeLeo hit him with his baton and an FHP trooper tased him.

The report said, “for the next three minutes and forty-four seconds, the defendant was captured on video striking the victim 19 times with his baton and kicking the victim twice in the head/facial area.”

Attorney John Phillips who represents Butler said in a statement:

We learned through the media that St. Johns County Sheriff’s officer Anthony DeLeo is finally facing charges of aggravated battery for beating up our client Christopher Butler. Other officers must be charged as well. The videos speak for themselves. It is the start of justice, but only a small step. This was abuse. It took too long to label it as so and we pray DeLeo is held fully accountable.

DeLeo is the only one facing criminal charges for this incident but former Deputy Joseph McGinnis who was there but didn’t step in was also fired and their supervisor was reprimanded for signing off of his deputies’ account of what happened without asking further questions.

According to the warrant, Butler not only suffered a fractured nose but also a fractured scapula and humerus.

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