Supporters seek ‘ Good Samaritan’ law

MELBOURNE Outraged by a case in Florida in which a group of teens is accused of watching and filming a man drowning — but doing nothing to help him — state legislators, law enforcement officials and the state attorney’s office are pushing for new “Good Samaritan” legislation.

The family of the dead man, Jamel Dunn, 31, also seeks legislation through a grass- roots effort on social media.

Police say five teens, ages 14 to 18, watched from a distance July 9 as Dunn entered a pond in Cocoa and shot a cellphone video of him while he called for help. They could be heard on the video cursing, as well as laughing at and mocking Dunn. They never called 911 or otherwise tried to help him.

Dunn’s body was found July 14. Video of the drowning was posted on social media.

Police asked State Attorney Phil Archer’s office to file criminal charges against the teenagers under a state statute that deals with the requirement to report a death in certain circumstances. The statute covers a variety of causes of death, including from criminal violence, by accident, by suicide and “in any suspicious or unusual circumstance.”

Archer’s office is studying the case file and hadn’t decided whether to file charges based on this statute, under which “it is the duty of any person ... who becomes aware of the death of any person” under certain circumstances to report the death and circumstances to the medical examiner.

Two state senators and a state representative are working on the issue. State Sen. Debbie Mayfield, a Republican from Rockledge, Fla., said the lawmakers “are endeavoring to assure that the legislation will be clearly written, in a manner not to compel individuals to put themselves in danger, as our goal is to avoid any unintended consequences.”

Mayfield said the goal of the bill will be to compel a bystander to “provide reasonable assistance” to someone, when knowingly in the presence of a person who is exposed to or has suffered grave physical harm, “to the extent that he or she is able and can.”

Such assistance, Mayfield said, could include “obtaining or attempting to obtain aid from a law enforcement officer, firefighter or emergency medical care provider.”

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said he is interested in supporting legislation that would hold people accountable in cases in which there is a demonstrated “blatant disregard for life” in not trying to help someone.

In a separate effort, Dunn’s family pushed for a new law through a petition on change. org that has more than 12,000 signatures; four related petitions have a total of more than 5,100 signatures.

Cocoa police know who the five teens are and have interviewed most of them. Police did not release their identities.

MALCOLM DENEMARK, FLORIDA TODAY Programs were distributed at the funeral for Jamel Dunn, 31, who died July 9 in a drowning that was captured on video.