JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A U.S. Navy veteran who was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), for charges that were later dropped, is speaking out after receiving a $45,000 settlement from the city earlier this year.
MORE | Bodycam video shows tense traffic stop involving Jacksonville veteran who says he was racially profiled |JSO officer ‘demonstrated conduct unbecoming’ during traffic stop of veteran, internal investigation finds
Braxton Smith, who served 10 years in the Navy, said he wants to empower his community by sharing his experience and encouraging others to hold law enforcement accountable when their rights are violated.
Smith was detained and searched by members of a JSO task force in November 2022 after leaving a convenience store on Golfair Boulevard. The encounter, captured on body camera video and partially by his cell phone, shows officers ordering him to the ground, handcuffing him, and searching his vehicle while he was detained for more than 30 minutes.
“They never really gave me an explanation,” Smith told News4JAX in a 2023 interview.
Body camera footage shows officers questioning Smith about drugs and a firearm found in his trunk — a handgun that Smith legally owned.
“I’ve bought guns my entire life. I’m a veteran. I’ve served 10 years in the military,” Smith said in the footage. “Why is this an issue if I’m within my legal limit?”
Smith later filed a formal complaint against Officer Justin Peppers. Following an internal investigation, JSO found that Peppers had “demonstrated conduct unbecoming of a police officer” and issued him a Level 1 written reprimand.
In April of 2025, Smith received a $45,000 settlement from the city of Jacksonville. He said the experience motivated him to speak publicly about police accountability.
“It really does matter,” Smith said. “We have a voice, and there are guidelines that everyone has to abide by. For anyone — especially from the police department — they should be held accountable.”
Smith said that since the release of the body camera footage, he’s heard from others who believe they were victims of police misconduct. He encourages citizens to report potential violations but also stresses the importance of not resisting officers during encounters.
“Any time that you feel your civil rights are being violated, you should report it, get the evidence, and seek support,” he said.
Data shows few use-of-force complaints sustained
A News4JAX I-TEAM review of JSO’s internal affairs data shows that complaints of unnecessary force are rarely sustained.
- 2024: 135 investigations into unnecessary force — 2 sustained
- 2023: 164 investigations — 1 sustained
- 2022: 125 investigations — 0 sustained
Smith said those numbers highlight why he continues to speak out.
“I know a lot of people feel powerless,” Smith said. “Just me battling through it myself — through the interview process, the legal process — I know there are people who feel the same way. But it’s a process, and there are actions that can be taken.”
JSO declined to issue a formal statement about the unnecessary force statistics on their website, but noted that 74% of the complaints over the three years we looked at were quickly dismissed after body worn camera footage or other video recordings clearly showed officers were within policy.