News Summary
Lt. Marc Crawford of the Jacksonville Police Department has been determined to be at fault in a road rage incident that led to gunfire during a traffic dispute last month. The altercation involving his unmarked car and a semi-truck resulted in injuries. Witnesses noted aggressive driving from Crawford, highlighting concerns over officer conduct. An independent investigation is ongoing, raising questions about accountability within law enforcement.
Jacksonville – A Jacksonville police officer, Lieutenant Marc Crawford, has been found at fault in a road rage incident that escalated into gunfire during a traffic dispute last month. The incident occurred on March 10, 2023, and involved a collision between Crawford’s unmarked vehicle and a semi-truck driven by 70-year-old James Edward Debardeleben.
The crash took place at the intersection of Meharry Avenue and Spelmen Road and resulted in a significant police presence in the Moncrief area. Following the collision, one individual was critically injured, while Debardeleben sustained a non-penetrating gunshot wound during the altercation. Fortunately, he did not require hospitalization.
According to the crash report, Lt. Crawford was off-duty at the time of the incident. He reportedly opened fire on Debardeleben after a series of contacts between their vehicles while navigating through heavy traffic. The report indicates that both vehicles were damaged, with the Ford Fusion sustaining approximately $6,000 in damage and the semi-truck suffering $5,000 in damages.
Witnesses have come forward, stating that Crawford aggressively engaged with the truck after merging into the lane, leading to multiple impacts. Despite Debardeleben’s state of confusion following the crash, several witnesses corroborated his account, asserting that the confrontation escalated without any exchange of words prior to the gunfire.
Interestingly, the investigation has encountered a lack of visual evidence, as no video footage of the incident was captured. The truck’s camera was unable to be downloaded by Debardeleben at the time of the report. As a result, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has expressed its commitment to transparency throughout the investigation, although it remains unclear if further details can be released while the case is ongoing.
Following its investigation, the crash report determined that neither driver was distracted or had obstructed vision during the time of the incident. As a result of his involvement in the shooting, Lt. Crawford, a 21-year veteran of the department, now faces scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding this incident, which marks his fourth police shooting.
The investigation into the incident is currently being conducted independently by the State Attorney’s Office, which is separate from the internal review being conducted by the Sheriff’s Office. As discussions on social media highlight differing opinions on Crawford’s actions, further assessments by authorities may shape ongoing public perceptions.
In an unrelated event, Thomas T. Turbeville, a non-sworn part-time civilian employee of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of DUI after being found intoxicated at the scene of a crash involving a vehicle and an excavator. This incident, occurring around 1:30 p.m., revealed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and unsteadiness. Turbeville was not on active duty at the time of the event.
The community is now left to process the implications of both incidents, as the public continues to seek answers regarding the conduct of law enforcement officers and their accountability.
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Additional Resources
- Jacksonville.com: Off-duty officer shooting incident
- WITN: Jacksonville police car involved in accident
- First Coast News: Teen killed in motorcycle crash
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Jacksonville
- Google Search: Jacksonville police shooting
