JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is disputing claims circulating on social media that a 14-year-old was arrested for jaywalking, saying the teen was instead caught actively committing a series of armed vehicle burglaries before fleeing from officers with a stolen handgun.
According to the sheriff’s office, the incident occurred at approximately 2:45 a.m. when District 3 patrol officers and members of the Canine Unit responded to reports of two individuals burglarizing vehicles in the Greenfield Manor neighborhood.
When officers arrived, they observed the 14-year-old, identified as Rashawn Knight, and another juvenile breaking into a vehicle.
Police said officers identified themselves and ordered both suspects to stop. Instead, the pair fled on foot while carrying firearms.
A canine officer pursued Knight, repeatedly ordering him to stop. After Knight allegedly ignored the commands and continued running, the handler deployed a police dog, which bit Knight and caused him to stop and drop his handgun.
Investigators said the firearm recovered from Knight had previously been reported stolen. Officers also recovered a window-breaking tool allegedly being carried by the teen.
Knight was arrested on nine counts of Armed Burglary, each a first-degree felony, and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Minor, a third-degree felony.
A judge ordered Knight held in secure juvenile detention.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it conducted a full administrative review of the incident and found no violations of department policy by the officers involved.
The department also addressed what it described as false information circulating online, stating that claims the teen was arrested for jaywalking are inaccurate.
According to the sheriff’s office, individuals sharing those claims never contacted the agency to verify the facts and instead were attempting to generate online traffic by creating public hostility toward law enforcement.
Police emphasized that Knight was not stopped for jaywalking but was allegedly committing multiple armed vehicle burglaries when officers encountered him.
The sheriff’s office added that officers were thankful the encounter ended with Knight safely in custody without the use of deadly force.