Current:Home > ContactBody cam shows aftermath of band leader's arrest after being shocked by police -Keystone Wealth Vision
Body cam shows aftermath of band leader's arrest after being shocked by police
View
Date:2025-04-18 09:39:04
New body camera video obtained by ABC News shows a conversation between Johnny Mims, a band director at Minor High School in Alabama, and a Birmingham Police Department (BPD) officer who shocked him with a stun gun during an incident on Sept. 14 after Mims refused to comply with officer's orders to stop the music so they could clear the field.
BPD released a nearly 8-minute clip of the incident last week that shows Mims refusing to comply and then being shocked three times by police, but Mims’ attorney, Juandalynn Givan, shared additional body camera footage of the incident with ABC News that shows the moments after Mims was arrested, including a conversation he had with the officer who shocked him during the incident.
Mims accuses the officer of escalating the situation in the video.
"You shouldn’t have escalated it," Mims told the officer.
"You allowed it to. You wouldn’t comply," the officer said.
"I did not let this escalate," Mims replied, adding that he told police the band was playing their last song of the night and was going to leave as soon as they finished.
The officer, who is Black, said he is concerned this incident will fuel the children's mistrust of police, and told Mims they need to "fix this" and find a way to "bridge the gap" between police and the children.
"We gotta fix this. You know, I don’t like this. We gotta fix this. We gotta come up with something," the officer said as he walked Mims to the police car. "Right now, I care about them babies on that bus that just got left. I care about them babies that aren’t going to be able to trust the police just because of these situations."
"I know, but If you put me in the car … it’s just making it worse," Mims said.
High school band director speaks out after getting shocked with stun gun by police
Mims expressed concern over how this incident impacted the students in an interview with "Good Morning America" that aired on Wednesday. "To hear those kids cry … [that] is the most heartbreaking thing that anybody can ever experience," Mims said.
"My biggest prayer is that first of all, that these students will not hold a grudge that they will be able to overcome this – that they would one day be able to move forward and continue to be the great people that they are," he added.
The incident took place on Sept. 14 at P.D. Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham during "fifth quarter" – a tradition that originates at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) where school bands face off, taking turns to play music after a football game comes to an end.
Video shows police approaching Mims during what he said was the band’s last song and asked him to ask the band to stop the music so they can clear the field.
Body camera footage released by BPD shows officers attempting to clear the stadium following the game and as they approach Mims and ask him to tell the band to stop the music, he repeatedly says, "Get out of my face." He later told police that the band was "fixing to leave" after they finished their last song.
Police allege Mims, who was charged with disorderly conduct, harassment and resisting arrest, refused to place his hands behind his back and pushed an officer during the altercation.
Video obtained by ABC News shows the officer accusing Mims of "swinging" on him as police led him out in handcuffs and escorted him to receive medical attention.
"You swung on me, man," the officer said.
"I didn’t, I said let me go," Mims said.
Body cam footage released after high school band director shocked with stun gun, arrested
In the body camera videos of the incident reviewed by ABC News, some moments of the interaction between Mims and police are not clearly visible, as Mims is not always in view and it’s dark in the stadium after the lights are turned off.
In the moments before Mims was shocked with a stun gun, an officer can be heard saying, "He hit the officer, he gotta go to jail."
"I did not swing on the officer," Mims said moments before he was shocked.
Mims accused police of "excessive" force and told "GMA" he feared for his life.
"I was on the ground. So, to go and tase me twice or three times … that's excessive," he said. "I'm a band director. I'm the bus driver. So, I wasn't, I wasn't running … I can't go nowhere. I got students that I'm accountable for."
Mims, who was placed on administrative leave by the Jefferson County School District following the incident, was booked at the Birmingham City Jail and was released on bond hours later, online jail records show.
Givan told "GMA" her office plans to take legal action against the city of Birmingham and called for officers involved to be placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.
"I want these charges dropped against my client. His reputation has been impacted. They have impugned his character," Givan said. "We want justice for our client, and we want his voice to be heard. We want him respected and we want an apology from the city of Birmingham."
The officers involved have not been named by the BPD.
Asked if any of the officers have been disciplined, a spokesperson for the Birmingham Police Department's Internal Affairs Division told ABC News on Wednesday that an investigation is ongoing.
veryGood! (52)
Related
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Australian man arrested for starting fire at Changi Airport
- Joe Burrow’s home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro
- Hougang murder: Victim was mum of 3, moved to Singapore to provide for family
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Here's how to make the perfect oven
- When fire threatened a California university, the school says it knew what to do
- Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- US inflation likely edged up last month, though not enough to deter another Fed rate cut
Ranking
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- 'We are all angry': Syrian doctor describes bodies from prisons showing torture
- With the Eras Tour over, what does Taylor Swift have up her sleeve next? What we know
- OpenAI releases AI video generator Sora to all customers
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Biden and Tribal Leaders Celebrate Four Years of Accomplishments on Behalf of Native Americans
- Fatal Hougang stabbing: Victim was mum of 3, moved to Singapore to provide for family
- 'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
Recommendation
Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
In a First, Arizona’s Attorney General Sues an Industrial Farm Over Its Water Use
PACCAR recalls over 220,000 trucks for safety system issue: See affected models
Man on trial in Ole Miss student’s death lied to investigators, police chief says
Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
Arctic Tundra Shifts to Source of Climate Pollution, According to New Report Card
Ohio Supreme Court sides with pharmacies in appeal of $650 million opioid judgment
Hougang murder: Victim was mum of 3, moved to Singapore to provide for family