Bodycam video exhibits an Alabama highschool band director being tased and arrested after refusing to finish a efficiency

An Alabama highschool band director was tasered and arrested when he refused to instruct his college students to cease enjoying music after a soccer recreation final week, authorities stated.

The band’s supervisor, Johnny Mims, has retained a authorized crew vowing to take motion towards the Birmingham Police Division, which launched physique digital camera footage of the incident on Tuesday.

Mims, who directs the band at Minor Excessive Faculty in Adamsville, a suburb of Birmingham, led the band’s efficiency Thursday on the bleachers at P. D. Jackson Olin Excessive Faculty, the place the 2 soccer groups just lately completed a recreation. The Minor and Jackson Olin highschool bands continued to play after the sport in what is named the “fifth quarter,” Gwandalyn Givan, an lawyer representing Mims, stated in a press release to CBS Information on Tuesday. “Fifth Quarter” is a band custom generally seen at traditionally black faculties and universities, the place college students proceed to play music after the sport is over.

Birmingham Law enforcement officials requested the band administrators on the two excessive colleges to finish their college students’ performances as they tried to evacuate the stadium after the sport, the Birmingham Police Division stated in a information launch on Friday. Police stated the Jackson-Olin band director complied with officers’ requests, however Mims didn’t.

Within the physique digital camera footage, which police stated begins 18 minutes after the tip of the soccer recreation, an officer sporting a digital camera crosses the soccer discipline and goes as much as the stands, the place college students are proven standing and enjoying music.

When the officer addresses Mims, he continues to guide the squad. He instructed the officer a number of instances, “Get out of my face.”

“My troops have arrived,” the officer says. The officer then orders Mims to cease the scholars from enjoying and tells Mims, “You are going to go to jail,” to which Mims responds, “That is nice.”

One other lady within the video provides comparable directions to Mims to cease the band and warns that she’s going to name a supervisor.

The footage exhibits the scene growing quickly. The stadium lights exit as an altercation breaks out between Mims and not less than two cops, one among whom is sporting a digital camera. Folks collect round them and lots of screams are heard. The officers bodily restrain Mims and handcuff him when one among them says, “He hit the officer, he ought to go to jail.” Mims denies hitting the officer.

Whereas being ordered to position his fingers behind his again, Mims was shocked as soon as with a Taser. Within the annotated transcript on the physique digital camera video, Birmingham police wrote that the primary try to shock Mims was “ineffective.” Moments later, Mims is shocked once more with the stun gun for an extended interval.

Mims was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct, bodily harassment and resisting arrest, police stated. His lawyer stated Tuesday that Mims’ authorized crew will examine the incident, together with the Alabama Schooling Affiliation, and intends to take authorized motion towards the Birmingham Police Division.

“The purpose isn’t solely to hunt damages for the ache and struggling endured by the band director, but in addition to spotlight systemic points inside regulation enforcement and advocate for change,” Givan stated within the assertion, calling the incident “troubling.” “An abuse of energy and a transparent violation of our shoppers’ civil rights.”

“These issues ought to be addressed by college directors or different skilled leaders to defuse such conditions,” the lawyer’s assertion continued. “I’m asking the Mayor of Birmingham and the Chief of Police to position all officers concerned on administrative depart till additional investigation. We is not going to relaxation till justice is served and people accountable are held accountable. This case highlights the pressing want for police reform, coaching, and safety of the rights of each citizen.”