LAKELAND, Fla. — Civil rights groups are demanding Lakeland police officers be criminally charged after they claim officers repeatedly punched a man in the face during a December arrest.
Antwan Glover said he did not think he was going to make it home alive on the night of December 18, 2022.
“I sat in the back of the police car, and I cried. I cried, and I just thank God that they didn’t kill me that night. Regardless of what else happened, I thank God that I still have my life,” said Glover.
Glover said just after midnight, he and his stepdaughter were approached by an unmarked vehicle while they were parked in the driveway of his grandmother’s home. He said Lakeland Police officers Anton Jefferson, Jason McLain, and Dillon Cornn told him they were conducting a traffic stop for not wearing a seatbelt.
“They never asked who I was. They never asked me for no identification, no license, no registration of the car,” said Glover.
Glover said he informed the officers that he had an active medical marijuana license and was in possession of legally obtained marijuana.
“I’m telling you I have my medical marijuana license, sir. What is going on here? Why am I on the ground? Why am I getting punched? I have my license, both of them. Why am I getting abused?” said Glover.
While the officers were taking Glover into custody, you can see in cellphone video recorded by his stepdaughter, Isabella Cannon, that Glover is on the ground with his hands up.
“Mr. Glover is unarmed laying on the ground with his hands up. He is being repeatedly struck in the face by a member of this corrupt department,” said Pastor Carl Soto, Co-founder of BLM Restoration Inc.
Glover’s charges included possession of marijuana, resisting arrest, and battery on an officer. His significant other and stepdaughter are also being charged with resisting arrest.
“I can't sleep sometimes at night because I'm scared. Every time I hear a siren by my house, I think they’re coming to my house. I'm really hurt because that was my dad, and I ain’t want to lose him,” said Cannon.
Local civil rights leaders believe Glover was racially profiled.
“Meeting with the Department of Justice and submitting a letter to them urging them to intervene, investigate and charge the officers,” said Soto.
The Lakeland Police Department (LPD) tells ABC Action News that the officers involved were not wearing body cameras.
That's because, as we reported on December 27, 2022, LPD was only just starting to roll out body cameras for 250 of its officers.
“Everybody in our marked patrol cars. So patrol division, traffic units, they’re the first ones getting them so that we can have at least those out by the end of the year,” said Assistant Chief Hans Lehman at the time.
When it comes to the December 18 traffic stop, Soto is now calling for the officers involved to be punished.
"We are going to be demanding the arrest of all four officers that were there that day," he said.
ABC Action News reached out to the state attorney's office for more information about how the process for determining possible charges in a case like this.
They said it all comes down to a lengthy internal investigation from Lakeland PD that would have to find wrongdoing.
Charges could also potentially be brought against officers if the state attorney's office learns of wrongdoing while prosecuting the current case against Antwan Glover.
When it comes to the December 18 traffic stop, ABC Action News also reached out to the Lakeland Police Department to get their side of things.
The department released the following statement:
“Our agency is aware of the video circulating on social media. All incidents involving protective actions taken by officers are reviewed by their chain of command and our Office of Professional Standards. It is not our policy to comment on any actions currently under review.”
