Last week, police officers startled and detained a high school band director who had instructed his pupils to continue playing their instruments at a high school football game in Alabama, leaving spectators and students there puzzled and in shock.
According to Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald, a department spokesperson, the arrest happened while officials from Birmingham’s police department worked to vacate Jackson-Olin High School’s football stadium on Thursday following the team’s 27-0 defeat against Minor High School.
According to Fitzgerald, who spoke to The Associated Press, both bands were advised to stop playing by the police so that people wouldn’t hang around the facilities. He claimed that even though the Jackson-Olin band stopped playing, Minor’s band director Johnny Mims stood up for his kids.
Mims instructed his students to carry on playing instead. Then there was a fight.
“During the officers’ interaction with Minor’s band director, the decision was made to place him in custody,” a statement from the Birmingham Police Department read. “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 Security personnel, and BPD officers.”
Fitzgerald claimed that the band director shoved the cop who put his hands on him after he refused to put his hands behind his back and when he did, another officer zapped him with a stun gun.
The lights at the stadium were reportedly turned off while officers made their way to Mims, according to a witness who saw the arrest, according to FOX6. She added that although not directly towards any students, the officers did spray mace.
The band director was seen to by paramedics on the spot before being sent to a hospital for additional testing, according to Fitzgerald.
After posting bond, he was released but then charged with disorderly behaviour, harassment, and resisting arrest.
On social media, the arrest caused some debate, with some users saying it was unnecessarily harsh.
Walter Gonsoulin, superintendent of schools for Jefferson County, declined to comment on the event, telling The Associated Press that he was waiting for further information before making a decision.
“I urge everyone not to jump to conclusions,” Gonsoulin said.
As is customary in situations where an officer uses excessive force to make an arrest, the Internal Affairs Division of the Birmingham Police Department is looking into the event.
Birmingham’s Jackson-Olin High School is situated at 1300 Avenue F. In the neighbourhood of Adamsville is Minor High School.
