How Sad this is!

The band was finishing up and would've been done playing in a couple of minutes. There was no logical reason for the officers to insist that the director stop them immediately. They were unreasonable. Power hungry is right. Their behavior was abominable, they had no reason to tase the director. It was completely unnecessary, and an outright abuse of power. That's no way to serve and protect.

These officers should, at least, be suspended, if not lose their jobs, but it's unlikely that will happen.
 

Do we know all the facts about this issue ?

He [band director] was told to stop playing ...... period.

He chose to defy that command [from where ever] it originated , then he chose to ignore the command from the officers in place .

He brought it on himself ... was it too heavy handed ? I don't know, I wasn't there.
 
rgp said:
Do we know all the facts about this issue ?

He [band director] was told to stop playing ...... period.

He chose to defy that command [from where ever] it originated , then he chose to ignore the command from the officers in place .

He brought it on himself ... was it too heavy handed ? I don't know, I wasn't there.
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And just how did you determine it was a "Lawful" order?
 
ohioboy said:
And just how did you determine it was a "Lawful" order?
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Usually, when an organization/school ? .... hire's a police detail , the police work for the organization . So if that organization needed to stop the music [for whatever reason] {perhaps quiet time restraints ?}then they direct the police to order it stopped.

But, as i said .... I do not know, as I wasn't there. But in the video .. the lights had been turned off ... the evening ending [jmo]

Bottom line ..... when a policeman in charge gives you a command ... it's best to follow it / obey that command. ...... Again, .... with a dose of common sense thrown in ..... jmo.
 
The band had been playing for 18minutes after the game ended. How long does the last song even take ??
Heck, they were still playing when the stadium lights were turned off. Is it safe for children in a dark strange environment ??

Law Enforcement was trying to clear the stadium in a safe manor, long after the game had ended and had asked the other school's band to stop playing, which they did. The other school complied with Law Enforcement Officer's request.

When they asked this stupid band director to stop playing, he said, "Get out of my face" ... 3 times.
Officers said, "Stop or you will be arrested and taken to jail." The band director gave a thumbs up and kept the band playing.
The band director disobeyed LE, resisted arrest and was said to have swung at one of the officers.
Multiple officers were trying to place the guy in custody and it was becoming unsafe for them to do so. So LIGHT HIM UP !!!
Play stupid games and win stupid prizes.

Screw that guy. He was fired from his last school job in Florida for anger issues. Maybe why he is the way he is.

What kind of message does it send to the students that LE Officers can be ignored, defied, and resisted against ??

Screw that guy. And New York is definitely one of those states I'm glad I don't live in if this guy's behavior is deemed acceptable there.
 
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Naturally said:
I live in Alabama and this has been all over the news. There are many articles on the Internet too. Not just one. Google is your friend.
There are other videos of the incident as well.
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I just now watched the video, far different from the OP's link account. Once you are told you are under arrest, you are. It was a tumultuous scene, no doubt. He was resisting to the point a taser may have been in order to prevent injury to the officers? If you are told to comply or be tased, you comply! Still a full legal review is necessary.
 
I checked the AL code. It said no person may resist a "lawful" arrest. I think it was, but you can bet his defender lawyer will argue it was not, therefore, that charge needs to be dismissed. Will not work.
 
Here's a pretty comprehensive article just reporting the facts ...
MSN.com hosting an AL.com (AL-Alabama) article. Look elsewhere for videos.
Minor band director Johnny Mims tased by Birmingham police during ‘5th quarter’: What we know today

Unlike his dismissal from a Florida school for anger issues alluded to by his lawyer as racism, this tasing incident doesn't involve ANY white people. There wasn't a single white person in that stadium. Law Enforcement or otherwise.

IMHO the LEO's were just trying to clear the stadium 18minutes after the game had ended and in an orderly and safe manor.
There have been incidents of violence and even gun fire at high school football games in Birmingham.
Orderly and safe SHOULD have been the way to disperse, not ignoring, defying and resisting LEO's.
 
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The reason the band was still playing 18minutes after the game had ended, was because of an informal regional "tradition" called 5th Quarter. Wherein bands keep playing long after the game has ended.

I think that is a "tradition" that should not be allowed. When the game is over ... it's over. Disperse and go home in an orderly and safe manor. To keep hanging around is just inviting trouble in these days of increasing violent lawlessness among young people. There are many examples of it in Birmingham Alabama as there are in many places across America. The Birmingham School System should ensure the "tradition" goes away for the safety of all ... and this incident would never have happened.
 
I googled this found various "Versions" but this is the most middle of the road description i found :


"He refused police orders to stop, instead instructing his band to keep playing, the police department said in a statement issued on September 15.

The statement alleges that the director refused to put his hands behind his back and pushed the arresting officer. Mims was tased by the officer, which "ended the physical confrontation," the police said.

Arrest warrants were issued for disorderly conduct, harassment, and resisting arrest. Mims was taken to hospital, and then to Birmingham City Jail before being bonded out, the statement said.

"I urge everyone not to jump to conclusions," school Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin Jr. said in a statement, according to a Daily Beast report. "I am in the process of gathering all the facts, and feel it would be inappropriate to comment further until that process is complete," he added."
A high school band director was tased by cops at a football game after he refused orders to stop his musicians from playing
 
rgp said:
Usually, when an organization/school ? .... hire's a police detail , the police work for the organization . So if that organization needed to stop the music [for whatever reason] {perhaps quiet time restraints ?}then they direct the police to order it stopped.

But, as i said .... I do not know, as I wasn't there. But in the video .. the lights had been turned off ... the evening ending [jmo]

Bottom line ..... when a policeman in charge gives you a command ... it's best to follow it / obey that command. ...... Again, .... with a dose of common sense thrown in ..... jmo.
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They were not police, they were privately hired as security guards. Nevertheless, they were official, representing the management, and he should have obeyed instantly.
Oxford Languages ·
po·lice
/pəˈlēs/
noun
the civil force of a national or local government, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order.
 
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1) Its NPR reporting, so you know there is a political slant on the story.
2) You are only hearing one side of the story
3) He attacked one of the officers
4) He risisted arrest

And that is only what NPR chose to report.
There is more to this I'm sure, so jumping on the bandwagon is premature.
 
Here is the video from Fox News. All they had to do was let them finish the song. Police are public servants, although in this case were these private security officers? At any rate, they are to protect and Serve. Not to escalate matters into an international affair terrorizing not only the band director, but also all his students. Yes, police can demand actions, like in a crime scene, or during a natural or unnatural disaster. But in a peaceful situation, police should not be acting like storm troopers. If the director was in error, then this should have been a matter for his supervisors to handle.
Alabama band teacher speaks out after getting tased by police following football game
 

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