No charges for 5 teens who mocked and filmed drowning man

"Nearly a year after a 31-year-old disabled man sank beneath the waters of a retention pond as five teens mocked, laughed and videoed his final moments, prosecutors said they will not pursue charges in the case....

[S]aid State Attorney Phil Archer in a prepared statement[:] "Unfortunately, Florida law does not address this behavior and we are ethically restrained from pursuing criminal charges without a reasonable belief of proving a crime beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt.”

The case drew worldwide attention amid calls from state lawmakers for new, "Good Samaritan" legislation that would make it a legal requirement for people to call or assist anyone in trouble.

The measure, however, failed to come up for a vote in the Florida Legislature.

“We had researched every possible avenue to see if there were any criminal charges that could apply. In this case, it just doesn’t apply. It’s unfortunate. It’s regrettable that the laws of Florida, as they are written, don’t allow us to file any charge in this case,” said Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Cocoa Police Department....

"I believe we all have learned much from this case," he said in a statement issued Friday afternoon. "Recognizing it is not the job of government or police to legislate morality, we as a society must do better in not only showing compassion, but teaching our young people it is always the right thing to help others in need or in distress, even if it is just making a phone call....

The decision to not prosecute means the case is effectively closed."