In Alabama, a police officer used a stun gun on the conductor of a school band that continued to play at the end of an American football game. The electrocuted man was first taken to the hospital and then taken to jail.
On September 14, the incident occurred after a minor high school football team won against a high school team in Birmingham, Alabama. According to information provided by the local police, after the match, officials instructed the fans to leave, while the bands of the two competing schools continued to play on the field. Police told their conductors to finish and “students and other spectators may leave the stadium,” it said. The band’s conductor complied with the authorities’ request. But Johnny Mims, who conducted the visiting band, “instructed his musicians to continue playing,” police said. “As officers attempted to take the conductor into custody, a physical altercation ensued between him, school staff from Birmingham, and police,” we read in part of the police report, as cited by CNN.
The situation was captured in a recording shared among others, CNN. Several police officers can be seen and heard asking Mims to stop playing his band, and he tells them to “get out of his sight.” – We are getting ready to leave. This is our last song – adds the conductor. – and then the officers threaten him that “he will be arrested”. “That’s awesome,” Mims said, giving him two thumbs up.
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Alabama. The conductor was treated with a stun gun
Later in the recording, you can see the lights going down and the orchestra playing. As the conductor left the stage, the police rushed in and tried to handcuff him. A struggle ensues, and officers try to subdue Mims, who yells, “Leave him alone.” A policeman can be heard saying: “He assaulted an officer, assaulted him, he should be arrested.” Later, the conductor repeats that he “didn’t hit anybody.” Seconds later, police stun the man with a stun gun, and panicked screams are heard in the crowd.
“The arresting officer says the group director pushed him during the arrest. The officer then used a stun gun on him, ending the physical confrontation,” police said in a statement. CNN reports that another video shows a fight between Mims and a police officer, but it’s unclear if the incident happened before or after the Taser was used.
The police explained that Mims was admitted to the hospital after the incident. After leaving the hospital, he was taken into custody. He was on an arrest warrant for disorderly conduct, harassment and resisting arrest. The operator’s lawyer, quoted by CNN, has already announced legal action against the officials involved in the incident.
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CNN, Birmingham Police Department
Main photo source: Fedorovekb/Shutterstock