Online threats reported after off-duty Jacksonville sheriff’s officer arrested in teen e-bike takedown case
Case centers on January confrontation at Sunshine Park in Jacksonville Beach
An off-duty Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) employee is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after his arrest in connection with a confrontation that was captured on surveillance video at a Jacksonville Beach skate park. The teenager involved has faced online threats in the weeks since the incident, the family’s attorney said.
The incident occurred on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Sunshine Park in Jacksonville Beach. Jacksonville Beach Police officers were dispatched after receiving a complaint about the misuse of e-bikes in the skate park area. While speaking with teenagers at the park, officers were told an adult had pulled one teen off an e-bike and threw him to the ground, resulting in minor injuries.
Officer identified, charged, and reassigned while proceedings continue
Authorities identified the adult as Stephen D. Hicks, described by law enforcement as a five-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Witnesses told police that Hicks displayed a badge during the confrontation and provided his name and badge number to the teen. Police said Hicks left the park before officers arrived, then later turned himself in to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Integrity Unit.
Hicks was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge and booked into the Duval County jail. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office administratively reassigned Hicks from his role in the Hazardous Devices Unit pending the outcome of the criminal case and an internal review. The arrest was reported as the fourth involving a JSO employee in 2026.
Attorney says teen has received threats; victim-rights protections sought
The family’s attorney has said the teen has been threatened online since the surveillance video of the takedown circulated. The attorney has also urged that the family be afforded protections available under Florida’s victims’ rights framework, including measures that can limit disclosure of certain identifying information in public records.
The teen’s attorney has said the family is seeking protections and safety measures following reported online threats tied to the case.
What is known, and what remains unresolved
Known: The confrontation happened at Sunshine Park on January 17, 2026; Hicks was off-duty and not in uniform; police reports and witness statements describe the teen being pulled from an e-bike and thrown to the ground; Hicks was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge.
Under review: The internal administrative investigation by JSO, and the court process that will determine criminal liability and any resulting penalties.
Not publicly established: The identity of the teenager and the full context leading to the physical confrontation, beyond what is shown in available surveillance footage and summarized in initial police reporting.
The next court hearing is expected to address the status of the misdemeanor case and any requests related to pretrial conditions and victim protections.