This image taken from Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff’s Office Twitter page shows a photograph depicting the mock lynching of a mannequin dressed in what appeared to be the uniform of a law enforcement officer. Authorities are investigating, Saturday, June 20, 2020, after motorists saw a startling scene as they drove along a Florida interstate: a mannequin dressed in a police uniform dangling from a rope at an overpass. Emergency crews in Jacksonville were called to investigate a possible suicide, which turned out to be a mannequin hanging from an Interstate 95 overpass. (Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff’s Office via AP)
Republished June 20, 2020 - 12:19 PM
Original Publication Date June 20, 2020 - 11:32 AM
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Motorists saw a startling scene Saturday morning as they drove along a Florida interstate: a mannequin dressed in a police uniform dangling from a rope at an overpass.
Emergency crews in Jacksonville, Florida, were dispatched shortly after 6:20 a.m. to investigate a possible suicide.
But when they got there, they discovered a mannequin hanging from an Interstate 95 overpass wearing a pig mask and dressed in what appeared to be a New York City police uniform.
In a statement on Twitter, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams called the incident “extremely disturbing.”
He called it an attempt to stoke "anti-police sentiment and drive a divide in our community."
The mannequin was removed and authorities launched an investigation.
“This type of act will not be tolerated by our agency or our community, and we will work together to hold those responsible accountable,” Williams said.
The death of George Floyd in Minnesota has spawned protests across the country and put focus on police brutality against Blacks.
News from © The Associated Press, 2020