Public demands accountability after in‑custody death; council hears calls to release footage, pause $1B jail project and halt morgue plan

Dozens of speakers used the public comment period at the Jacksonville City Council meeting to demand transparency and accountability following the death of Charles (Charlie) Faggart while in county custody. Speakers called for release of all footage, criminal prosecution of involved officers, an immediate reassessment of plans for a new billion‑dollar jail, and repurposing of a proposed morgue in Brentwood.

Multiple speakers described the family learning of Mr. Faggart’s death through news reports and said they had received little or no direct information from the sheriff’s office. Testimony from community leaders and advocates referenced recent settlement payouts and alleged prior disciplinary issues involving officers implicated in the case.

Attendees urged the council to use its oversight role to demand transparency and to reconsider funding for a proposed new jail, saying a new facility would not address alleged misconduct, overcrowding and systemic issues. Several speakers linked the jail plans to larger concerns about racial equity and neighborhood impacts (Brentwood was specifically mentioned by multiple speakers in opposition to siting of a proposed morgue). Some speakers demanded that the council withhold or reallocate funding for a new jail until investigations and reforms are completed.

Council response: Multiple council members thanked speakers and acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns. The meeting record shows requests for follow‑up and public calls for the release of footage; however, at the time of the meeting there was no formal council action recorded that changed sheriff’s office investigatory or prosecutorial processes. Several public commenters and community groups indicated they would continue weekly protests and pursue records requests.

Why it matters: The topics raised involve questions about use of force, oversight of corrections staff, transparency in in‑custody deaths, large capital spending on detention facilities and equity in siting public facilities. Community groups described the proposed new jail and a planned morgue as magnifying the city’s history of placing high‑impact facilities in certain neighborhoods and urged council intervention.

What’s next: Speakers urged the council to demand release of all footage, to support criminal investigations, and to pause capital spending on a new jail while pursuing reforms such as pretrial diversion, bail reform and greater oversight of corrections operations. The record shows community organizers plan continued public protests and public records requests.