What was supposed to be a quiet Monday afternoon at a local Florida bar took a chaotic and disturbing turn when an off-duty sheriff’s sergeant, heavily intoxicated and aggressive, picked a fight with an elderly couple. Jason Stickels, a 44-year-old veteran of the Volusia Sheriff’s Office since 2004, was arrested following a physical altercation at Merk’s Bar & Grill. Instead of upholding the law, the off-duty deputy became the aggressor, disrupting the peace of regular patrons and ultimately destroying his own multi-decade career in law enforcement in a span of just two minutes.
The trouble began around 4:20 p.m. when Stickels, apparently highly inebriated, began making unwanted contact with a 71-year-old woman and her 77-year-old husband who were simply trying to enjoy their afternoon. Surveillance footage captured the tense moments as Stickels invaded the couple’s personal space, standing uncomfortably close before leaning in toward the woman. Terrified and uncomfortable, she backed away and stood up from her chair, later telling responding officers that the off-duty sergeant had actually tried to kiss her without her consent.
Seeing his wife in distress, the 77-year-old husband immediately stepped in to protect her and confronted Stickels. Despite a waitress bravely stepping between the two men to de-escalate the situation, Stickels lost control. Security footage and police records state that Stickels charged at the elderly husband and grabbed him tightly by the throat. Fortunately, a vigilant bystander sitting nearby realized the danger, rushed in from behind, and placed Stickels in a tight chokehold, dragging him to the ground and keeping him pinned until authorities arrived.
When officers from the New Smyrna Beach Police Department arrived at the chaotic scene, Stickels tried to use his professional status to escape the consequences of his actions. According to the charging affidavit, he flashed his law enforcement badge and arrogantly told the responding officer, “You know who I am.” However, his professional credentials did not save him from handcuffs, and he was promptly arrested and escorted out of the bar, though thankfully no serious injuries were reported.
The fallout from the incident was swift, severe, and highly publicized. Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood did not hold back his anger, taking to social media to publicly condemn Stickels’ “idiotic behavior.” Expressing deep embarrassment, Chitwood released a statement apologizing directly to the victimized couple, lamenting how a long-standing deputy could so easily throw away his entire career because he was stumbling drunk and harassing innocent citizens. Stickels was immediately stripped of his service weapon and gear, placed on administrative leave, and now faces likely termination.
Following his arrest, Stickels was booked into jail and charged with two felony counts of battery on a person 65 years of age or older. While he was released later that Monday after posting a surety bond, the legal and professional consequences of his actions are far from over. This incident serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly alcohol and entitlement can dismantle a lifetime of public service, leaving a formerly trusted officer facing felony charges and public disgrace.
