FDOC KEVIN DAVIDSON - Maybe Suicide, Maybe Not

Article published Oct 5, 2005
Fired DOC officer may have killed himself

A party Friday night at Florida State Prison set into motion a series of events that now include a ranking officer's apparent suicide, a sexual assault at the prison and the arrest of another officer who had to be hit with multiple Taser shots to be brought under control at a bar.

Capt. Keith William Davison, 39, was fired from his job Monday with the Department of Corrections at Florida State Prison.

He was found dead Tuesday morning of an apparent suicide.

Davison's body was found alone inside his pickup, which was parked next to a small pond in a wooded area outside Union Correctional Institution by another correctional officer. Davison was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Union County Sheriff's Capt. Gary Seay, who is lead ing the death investigation.

"We do not suspect foul play," Seay said. "This appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound and we are waiting for the autopsy to say anymore."

After talking with several witnesses, Seay determined that Davison's truck was not parked near the pond before midnight. An autopsy may help determine the approximate time of his death.

Davison was fired for conduct unbecoming an officer after the department began investigating a party at the Bachelor Officers Quarters at the prison that he and others had reportedly attended. Prison officials close to the case said the party was to celebrate Christopher Eric Eddins' promotion to lieutenant.

The prison system's investigation into the party was triggered by the sexual assault of a woman on prison property.

At 10:04 p.m. Friday, the Bradford County Sheriff's Office was called to the prison to investigate the report of a sexual assault.

On Tuesday following Davison' s death, Sheriff's Lt. W. H. "Bear" Bryan said the sexual assault investigation was continuing.

A separate prison system investigation was under way Tuesday into Eddins' alleged behavior a couple of hours after the party while he was drinking at George's, a bar west of Starke on State Road 16 that is popular with correctional officers. Eddins was arrested inside the bar and charged with affray, a misdemeanor.

Bradford County Deputy Ray White was working off-duty at George's when a fight broke out about 12:15 a.m. Saturday. In his written report, White said he went onto the dance floor to try to break up the fight. White said had to discharge his Taser on the left side of Eddins' back several times to get the 6-foot-tall, 250-pound Eddins to stop resisting White's attempts to control him.

It was not immediately clear late Tuesday whether Eddins is assigned to work at Florida State Prison or New River Correctional Institution West.

Prison officials said because the charge against Eddins was a misdemeanor and not a felony, the department will conduct an administrative investigation. Information from that investigation as well as from the Sheriff's Office investigation will be used to determine whether any disciplinary action should be taken against Eddins, officials said.

Also expected to be taken into consideration is Eddins' prior record.

In March 2000, Eddins was sentenced to serve a year of state probation for simple battery. He successfully completed his probation on March 12, 2001. Details about the case were not available late Tuesday. Eddins did not return calls asking for comment.

Funeral arrangements were still pending Tuesday evening for Davison, who had worked for the prison system for 16 years.

He began his corrections career in September 1989 at the Central Florida Reception Center where he was promoted to sergeant in August 1993. Davison transferred to Florida State Prison in October 1998 and was promoted to lieutenant in July 2003. Davison received another promotion - to captain - and was transferred to New River Correctional Institution at the end of 2004.

The head of Florida's prison system, Secretary James V. Crosby, Jr., who knew Davison personally, issued a brief, written statement about his death.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of Captain Davison's death. On behalf of the entire department, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this very difficult time."

Karen Voyles can be reached at (352) 486-5058 or voylesk@gvillesun.com