Criminal defense attorney and Past-President of The Florida Bar, Michelle Suskauer, spoke with Action News Jax about a lawsuit filed by the family of Charles Faggart, demanding the release of records related to his death following an incident inside the Duval County Jail.
According to reports, Faggart was hospitalized after being restrained and subjected to chemical agents, arriving at the hospital unresponsive with visible injuries. The lawsuit alleges that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has completed its investigation but continues to withhold unredacted records, including incident reports and video.
Suskauer explained that in cases like this, law enforcement has a legal obligation to provide records for review, particularly when there are questions surrounding what occurred.
She noted that when agencies refuse to release information or provide only redacted materials, courts are often required to step in and determine whether the records must be disclosed.
Suskauer added that access to this information is critical for families seeking answers, and that filing a lawsuit may be the only path forward when transparency is limited.
She also explained that the next step in the process will be for the sheriff’s office to respond, after which a judge will decide what records, if any, must be released.
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Lawsuit Demands Release of Records in Charles Faggart’s Jail Death (Action News Jax)
