Teenagers who laughed and filmed a disabled man as he drowned may face criminal charges

Current law states there is no duty for witnesses to help people in need

Police have recommended charges for a group of teenagers who allegedly filmed a disabled man as he drowned and did nothing to help.

Five boys between 14 and 16 years old reportedly laughed loudly when 32-year-old Jamel Dunn screamed and was submerged in a retention pond in Cocoa, Florida.

In the film at Bracco Pond, the teenagers can be heard laughing and saying “You should have never got in there”, and “Get out the water. You’re gonna die!”

The teenagers taunted and shouted insults at Dunn during the one-minute video as he struggled in the water and shouted for help.

The boys showed no remorse when they were questioned by detectives.

Under Florida law, it is not a punishable offence for a witness not to help a person in need, and the youths were likely not to face charges.

But Cocoa police chief Mike Cantaloupe said police discussed the case with the state attorney and decided to file a misdemeanour charging document under a statute which requires a witness to report a person’s death to authorities, as reported by WKMG-TV.

He also plans to meet with lawmakers to discuss drafting new legislation which would require witnesses to help people in distress.

The state attorney’s office has yet to decide if it will bring charges, and the teenagers are not in custody.

Dunn’s body was found five days after he drowned on 9 July.

It is not clear why Dunn decided to enter the pond, which had a “no swimming” sign.

Authorities said Dunn had argued with his fiancée before entering the water.

“Regardless of the circumstances surrounding his decision to enter the water that day, there is absolutely no justification for what the teens did,” said Mr Cantaloupe.

“Pursuing criminal charges is a way to hold them accountable for their own actions.”

Agencies contributed to this report.