Daniel, victim of police violence in Jacksonville

My name is Emma Forrest, Daniel Forrest’s sister. I appreciate you taking the time to read his story.

On 5/18/2023, I received a call from a detective at the Florida state attorney's office, looking for the next of kin for my brother. She said that he fell on his face after being tased by Jacksonville police at a Family Dollar, and was in critical condition after sustaining a severe head injury. Upon arriving in Jacksonville, I saw that he was on a ventilator, in a medically induced coma. The doctors and health professionals removed the entire right side of his skull because he had such a severe brain injury. None of them have a positive prognosis and said that we wouldn't know his mental capacity until he was removed from sedation.

Meanwhile, after extensive effort on the part of our sister, Malika, we received police cam footage and a police report. In the report, they outlined that Daniel and another friend were reprimanded for $30 worth of laundry detergent. After the initial request to leave the store, Daniel left the goods inside the Family Dollar and attempted to leave the premises. After obeying their commands, he was still chased by police, given a single warning, then tased onto concrete. As you can see in the police cam footage, he had no stolen goods on him. The footage also did not align with the initial report that he had fallen on his face. Neither did the damage on the right side of his skull.

Over the past few weeks, family flew in from all over the country to visit him. At that time, our only hope was that our presence would help in providing him with moral support and that our prayers would be miraculously answered. However, after requesting police cam footage and sharing our story and photos of him in the hospital with the media, we were met with resistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, including them revoking our visitation rights and adding additional criminal charges to Daniel’s case.

After requesting help from an attorney, we were able to get our visitation rights back. Additionally, all of his charges were dropped. On another positive note, Daniel has begun to miraculously heal. We went from speaking to the palliative care team to the rehabilitation team at the hospital. However, although we do not know the exact length of his recovery, it will likely include months, if not years of physical and occupational therapy to help his physical and cognitive state. Currently, he is still hospitalized. He is fighting a MRSA infection, likely caused by a pressure wound, and is learning to speak again and starting to move his limbs, but cannot yet stand up or sit up on his own, or feed himself.

We are requesting support for Daniel to help cover the medical fees required for the extensive physical and mental rehabilitation caused by the excessive police force, and the legal fees required to take on this civil case against the City of Jacksonville.

If you are not able to donate at his time, please pass this along to other people in our community. Thank you!