An
Alabama school band director was tasered by
police officers after he refused to stop his band’s performance, in what his lawyer has called an “alarming abuse of power”.
The incident unfolded following a football game between Minor High School and PD Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday.
Birmingham Police said that officers noticed both schools’ bands still playing after the game finished and asked both groups to stop playing music “so students and attendees would leave the stadium”.
While the home team’s band complied with the request, Minor High School band director Johnny Mims did not and “instructed his band to continue performing,” police said.
A physical altercation is said to have ensued, with officers tasering and then arresting Mr Mims.
“BPD officers attempted to take the band director into custody for Disorderly Conduct when a physical altercation ensued between the band director, Birmingham City Schools System personnel, and BPD officers,” said the statement.
Bodycam footage released by police shows Mr Mims telling officers “get out of my face” after they asked him to stop performing.
“We’re fixing to go. This is our last song,” Mr Mims then tells the officers.
An officer is then heard telling Mr Mims “you will go to jail,” to which he responds with a thumbs up. “That’s cool,” he says.
The band then stops playing its song and Mr Mims steps off the stage before a struggle ensues between him and the officers as they appear to try to handcuff him and he yells “get off of me”.
“He hit the officer. He gotta go to jail,” one officer is heard saying. “He swing on the officer.”
Mr Mims is then heard saying he “did not swing on the officer” seconds before he is tasered by police and brought to the ground.............
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...school-band-taser-football-game-b2414223.html