Eli Johnson testified Wednesday that he was singing karaoke at a New Smyrna Beach bar two years ago when he saw his friend in an altercation with a man. That man happened to be at the time an off-duty Daytona Beach Police officer.
That altercation would escalate into a stabbing in front of the Flagler Tavern that would leave Johnson’s friend seriously injured and soon-to-be ex-Daytona Beach Police Officer Shane Jackson in handcuffs.
The 52-year-old Jackson is on trial this week charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, a first-degree felony. He remains free on $35,000 bond.
Jackson was quickly fired for the March 10, 2021 incident by the Daytona Beach Police Department. The year before getting fired and charged with a crime, Jackson was in the news for a much more different reason. He broke his neck when he fell running to help another officer during an officer-involved shooting in September 2020 in Holly Hill.
Testimony in the trial began Tuesday before a jury of five women and three men in Circuit Judge Leah Case’s courtroom at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.
Jackson’s defense attorney, Michael Panella, had reserved the option to argue that Jackson acted in self-defense and was entitled to immunity from prosecution. The judge initially denied that argument but agreed to rehear it later in the trial.
Johnson, 25, and a group of friends, including Jarrett Stadtler and Taylor Morgan, now 24, were celebrating Stadtler’s 24th birthday at Tayton O’Brians at 410 Flagler Ave. in New Smyrna Beach.
Jackson had been at the bar for several hours before the group arrived.
Under questioning by Assistant State Attorney Sarah Thomas, Johnson recounted what he said happened.
Morgan testified previously that Jackson, whom she did not know, started dancing too close to her. Stadtler got in between her and Jackson. Stadtler and Jackson made contact at least twice and soon locked up as they pushed or pulled one another across the floor.
A bar scuffle and then a stabbing
Johnson said he was up on the stage singing karaoke, reading the words to the song on a screen when he noticed the altercation.
“At some point I looked up into the crowd and I saw my friend Jarrett locked arms with some guy that was like double his size trying to wrestle him to the ground, so I reacted. I jumped off and I punched Shane Jackson to break it up. He fell.”
Johnson and his group were told to leave as was Jackson.
Jackson, though, needed help off the floor after he got punched. According to testimony from bar staff, Johnson was spitting blood from the punch. And he was angry.
Johnson said they walked down the street and stopped in front of the Flagler Tavern at 414 Flagler Ave. One of their friend’s car was parked by the curb. They said they were talking about what happened as they walked to the car.
Thomas asked if they were making fun of Jackson. Johnson responded that the group was not.
Jackson walked down the street, past the group and then turned around, according to prior testimony and evidence. Jackson then stood at the entrance to the Flagler Tavern while the group was standing near the parked car.
Johnson testified that Morgan became upset at seeing Jackson again and yelled at him. Johnson testified no one else yelled at Jackson.
Security video showed Jackson holding a switchblade behind him in his right hand. He held the knife for a minute before approaching the group, according to prosecutors.
Johnson said he grabbed Morgan to get her away from Jackson. Johnson testified that when he turned around he saw Jackson had a knife. He then went to pull Stadtler away.
“I grabbed Jarrett,” Johnson said. “By the time I grabbed Jarrett … my arm (was) covered in blood.”
He said he focused on helping Stadtler and did not know where Jackson went.
.”I just held my hand on Jarrett’s stomach,” Johnson said. “And I wouldn’t let go. I let go once and the blood just like started going crazy so I made sure that I wasn’t going to let go ever again until the paramedics got there.”
During cross examination, Jackson’s defense attorney, Panella, asked Johnson if Stadtler and Jackson had thrown a punch at each other.
Johnson said they had not. He said Jackson was pushing Stadtler back.
Panella asked him if he knew he had knocked Jackson out. Johnson replied he did.
Panella asked if he had offered to help Jackson afterward. Johnson said no, he just wanted to leave.
Panella asked Johnson if he admitted to police he had knocked Jackson out.
“I said I broke it up,” Johnson said.
The trial continues on Thursday.