Marion County deputy arrests bystander for filming investigation, lawsuit alleges
DUNNELLON Fla. (WCJB) - A resident of Dunnellon filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, claiming they improperly arrested him for videotaping a deputy.
George Nathansen was arrested in July 2021 while videotaping the aftermath of a car accident on East Pennsylvania Avenue in Dunnellon.
Nathansen says he was standing on a public sidewalk at least 30 feet from the scene and filming when Marion County Deputy Neil Rosaci arrested him. The lawsuit states Nathansen was on the sidewalk at all times during the incident.
The lawsuit also explains that Nathansen has a disability limiting his ability to communicate. For that reason, he wore a sign around his neck with information about his disability.
While being arrested, Nathansen says his arm was twisted causing a fracture in his shoulder. He requests $1 million in compensatory and other damages from Sheriff Billy Woods and the deputy involved.
The arrest report, written by Deputy Rosaci, describes the incident differently. The report states Nathansen arrived on the scene and started filming the inside of his patrol vehicle. Nathansen was told to back away and then he interacted with the people involved in the wreck, distracting the deputy.
Nathansen was charged with resisting an officer, however, court records show the charge was dropped in August 2021. The lawsuit claims Nathansen’s personal video and deputy body camera video show that he didn’t interfere with the investigation.
He is requesting a trial by jury.
Nathensen previously filed a lawsuit in 2021 claiming unjust use of force by Marion County corrections officers when he was an inmate. The lawsuit was dismissed because of unclear language.
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