BRUNSWICK, Ga. – The Glynn County Police Department said on Friday it was reviewing a recent investigation regarding the hit-and-run death of a 57-year-old man after his family raised concerns over how the case was handled.
Tracy Shannon Cargile died on May 26, days after being hit and left injured on the side of the road for over 12 hours.
Paige Cargile, Shannon’s daughter, said her family is not happy with how the police department handled her father’s case.
“A lack of detail, attention, a lack of everything,” Paige Cargile, Tracy’s daughter, said.
News4JAX first spoke with the Cargile family on May 28.
Paige Cargile said her dad started walking after he drove over something and got a flat tire on Highway 99, and then made it to Highway 82 where he got hit.
Dashcam footage from a passing motorist captured what may be the last images of Cargile walking along Highway 82 before the incident.
Shannon Cargile was found nearly 12 hours after he was hit and was flown to UF Health, where he died four days later.
After speaking with the Cargile family, News4JAX contacted police on May 28. According to Paige Cargile, she was contacted by a detective in the police department later that same day.
She said the detective apologized for not knowing her father had died, not being aware of the severity of the case and for not contacting them earlier.
That day, Paige also said police came by her house to collect evidence and a video of Shannon walking.
Days later, News4JAX reached out to the police department to get answers on those claims and learned about the review.
During a Friday morning phone conversation with Lawton Dodd, the Community Outreach Liaison for the police department, News4JAX learned the case is being reviewed, specifically looking into any potential deficiencies or shortcomings during the investigation.
But Paige Cargile said she wishes that review didn’t have to happen.
“It’s kind of nerve-wracking to be honest,” Paige said. “I’m hoping both of the officers on duty that day realize that they could have done a better job. The people in our community need that. And if they are going to continue to be police officers, our community needs them to do their job well.”
News4JAX asked Dodd what prompted the review of the case or how often cases are reviewed.
Dodd said he “doesn’t know the metrics for that” but that the police department just wants to make sure this case was handled correctly.
If you know anything about this hit-and-run case, call the Glynn County Police Department at 912-554-3645.
