ADAMSVILLE, AL – The band director for Minor High School was Tased by an officer after reportedly refusing to comply with the officer’s orders to stop the band from playing music so that the field could be cleared.
The Birmingham Police Department (BPD) have since released an eight-minute video from the officer’s body camera, showing the band director, identified as Johnny Mims, refusing to comply and then being Tased three times by police.
Mims' attorney, Juandalynn Givan shared additional body camera footage of the incident showing the moments after Mims was arrested. This footage included the conversation that Mims had with the officer who Tased him.
In the video, Mims can be heard accusing the officer of escalating the situation.
“You shouldn’t have escalated it," Mims said.
The officer responded, “You allowed it to. You wouldn’t comply.”
Mims said that he told police the band was playing their last song of the night and were planning on leaving as soon as they finished.
“I did not let this escalate," he said.
The officer expressed his concern about the incident fueling the children’s mistrust of the police.
He said to Mims, “We gotta fix this. You know, I don’t like this. We gotta fix this. We gotta come up with something. 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.”
The officer said this as he walked Mims towards the police car. Mims responded and said, “I know, but if you put me in the car … it’s just making it worse.”
In an interview with Good Morning America, Mims expressed his concern over how the incident impacted the students. He said, “To hear those kids cry … [that] is the most heartbreaking thing that anybody can ever experience.”
He added, “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.”
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 could clear the field.
Body camera footage shows officers attempting to clear the stadium following the game and as they approach Mims to ask him to tell the band to stop playing, he repeatedly says, “Get out of my face.”
Police state that Mims refused to place his hands behind his back and pushed an officer during the altercation. Mims has been charged with disorderly conduct, harassment and resisting arrest.
Video shows the officer escorting Mims in handcuffs to receive medical attention. In the video, the officer said, “You swung on me, man.”
Mims responded back, “I didn’t. I said let me go.”
Moments before Mims was Tased, an officer can be heard saying, “He hit the officer, he gotta go to jail.”
Officers said that the game had ended for almost 20 minutes before they told Mims to have his band stop playing so that they could clear the field. Mims can be seen ignoring the officers’ directions, telling them seven times to “Get out of my face.” Mims also signaled to the band to keep playing and did not stop them until moments after the lights on the field were shut off.
While on Good Morning America, Mims accused police of using “excessive” force and that he “feared for his life.” Following the incident, Mims was placed on administrative leave by the Jefferson County School District.
He was booked at the Birmingham City Jail and released on bond within a few hours. A spokesperson for BPD’s Internal Affairs Division stated that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The Birmingham Police Department (BPD) have since released an eight-minute video from the officer’s body camera, showing the band director, identified as Johnny Mims, refusing to comply and then being Tased three times by police.
Mims' attorney, Juandalynn Givan shared additional body camera footage of the incident showing the moments after Mims was arrested. This footage included the conversation that Mims had with the officer who Tased him.
In the video, Mims can be heard accusing the officer of escalating the situation.
“You shouldn’t have escalated it," Mims said.
The officer responded, “You allowed it to. You wouldn’t comply.”
Mims said that he told police the band was playing their last song of the night and were planning on leaving as soon as they finished.
“I did not let this escalate," he said.
The officer expressed his concern about the incident fueling the children’s mistrust of the police.
He said to Mims, “We gotta fix this. You know, I don’t like this. We gotta fix this. We gotta come up with something. 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.”
The officer said this as he walked Mims towards the police car. Mims responded and said, “I know, but if you put me in the car … it’s just making it worse.”
In an interview with Good Morning America, Mims expressed his concern over how the incident impacted the students. He said, “To hear those kids cry … [that] is the most heartbreaking thing that anybody can ever experience.”
He added, “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.”
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 could clear the field.
Body camera footage shows officers attempting to clear the stadium following the game and as they approach Mims to ask him to tell the band to stop playing, he repeatedly says, “Get out of my face.”
Police state that Mims refused to place his hands behind his back and pushed an officer during the altercation. Mims has been charged with disorderly conduct, harassment and resisting arrest.
Video shows the officer escorting Mims in handcuffs to receive medical attention. In the video, the officer said, “You swung on me, man.”
Mims responded back, “I didn’t. I said let me go.”
Moments before Mims was Tased, an officer can be heard saying, “He hit the officer, he gotta go to jail.”
Officers said that the game had ended for almost 20 minutes before they told Mims to have his band stop playing so that they could clear the field. Mims can be seen ignoring the officers’ directions, telling them seven times to “Get out of my face.” Mims also signaled to the band to keep playing and did not stop them until moments after the lights on the field were shut off.
While on Good Morning America, Mims accused police of using “excessive” force and that he “feared for his life.” Following the incident, Mims was placed on administrative leave by the Jefferson County School District.
He was booked at the Birmingham City Jail and released on bond within a few hours. A spokesperson for BPD’s Internal Affairs Division stated that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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