Birmingham Police Department (BPD) released bodycam footage on Monday night of an officer deploying a taser against a Minor High School band director before his arrest and subsequent criminal charging.
A spokesperson for BPD said BPD Chief Scott Thurmond has met with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, city of Birmingham leadership, and superintendents of the Birmingham School System and the Jefferson County School System.
Police said the incident occurred Thursday during a football game between the Minor High Tigers and the Jackson-Olin Mustangs. During the third quarter of the game, a drumline battle broke out between the school's bands. According to BPD, officers got Jackson-Olin's band to stop playing, but "Minor's band director did not comply with multiple officers' requests to stop his band from performing; he instructed his band to continue performing."
RELATED: Minor High School band director tased and arrested after Jackson-Olin football game
Police said during interactions with the band director, officers decided to place him in custody. A physical altercation started between the officer, other BPD officers, Birmingham City School System security personnel and the band director.
The band director, Johnny Bernard Mims, 39, currently faces disorderly conduct, harassment and resisting arrest charges. He was also later admitted and discharged from the hospital.
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