High School Band Director gets tazed for refusing to stop playing after a game

Next thing you know police will be marching on stage during concerts and instructing performers to immediately end the show, and then tase them when they don’t comply. And the police-ass kissers will be right there cheering on their behavior.

 

Nope. You have it exactly backwards. Minor High School won the game, it was their band director who the cop decided to "light up."

Even something as simple as the officer asking the band to stop playing after they finished their song and this whole thing never happens.

Works both ways, and I place that obligation on law enforcement in a situation such as this.

 

That was my thinking as well. They probably have some B.S. catch all statute like “disturbing the peace” or something similar that they can get him on.

 

Is that a lawful order?

 

I would assume there is a letter of authorization in place between the school board and the police department granting the police permission to do certain things on school property on their own. I suspect that will be released shortly.

 

That’s the thing about crooked ass loser cops, they can trump up any charge to anything they feel like. Ask them a question regarding your rights that they don’t like? “You’re resisting arrest.” Defensively move your arms after a cop unexpectedly grabs your wrist? “Assaulting an officer.” No one respects these professional situation-escalators except for their loyal band of police-ass kissers.

 

Most high schools want the stands cleared immediately after the game, especially with all the violence that has been occurring at prep sporting events in recent years. That way the police can shift their attention to the parking and parent pick-up lots to do crowd control in those areas before leaving for the night. Schools can’t afford to hire extra security and need police presence in different areas throughout the night and while not sure what it is like in Alabama, the last thing high school athletic directors and administration want in Florida is to have fans hanging around after a sporting event, especially at 10:00pm on a Friday night.

 

You're correct on the result of the game. I conflated it with the home/away. Minor was the road team.

From the video I saw, the officer was more than reasonable with the guy who wore the "Instructor" shirt. As was the Sgt. As soon as they tried to talk with the Director, all he'd say was "get out of my face". Escalation was squarely on the Director in this situation.

 

IF the cops had lawful authority to order them to leave, subsection 6 applies.
Ala. Code § 13A-11-7

Current with legislation from the 2023 Regular and Special Sessions.
Section 13A-11-7 - Disorderly conduct
(a) A person commits the crime of disorderly conduct if, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he or she does any of the following:
(1) Engages in fighting or in violent tumultuous or threatening behavior.
(2) Makes unreasonable noise.
(3) In a public place uses abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture.
(4) Without lawful authority, disturbs any lawful assembly or meeting of persons.
(5) Obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or a transportation facility.
(6) Congregates with other person in a public place and refuses to comply with a lawful order of law enforcement to disperse.
(b) Disorderly conduct is a Class C misdemeanor.
(c) The mere carrying of a pistol, holstered or otherwise secured on or about one's person, without brandishing the weapon, in a public place, in and of itself, is not a violation of this section. For purposes of this subsection, "brandishing" shall mean the waving, flourishing, displaying, or holding of an item in a manner that is threatening or would appear threatening to a reasonable person, with or without explicit verbal threat, or in a wanton or reckless manner.
(d) Nothing in Act 2013-283 shall be construed to prohibit law enforcement personnel who have reasonable suspicion from acting to prevent a breach of the peace or from taking action to preserve public safety.
Ala. Code § 13A-11-7 (1975)

Amended by Act 2022-133,§ 1, eff. 1/1/2023.
Amended by Act 2013-283,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2013.
Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §5525.

 

I disagree. I believe the cop started off aggressively and was wagging his finger a little too close to the first band guy's face.

 

Just found out the band leader was an F$U graduate......Enough said, guilty as charged.

 

Did you attend a historically black high school?


"In some HBCU’s and predominantly Black high schools, once the football game ends, bands stay on to play for families and supporters."

Minor band director Johnny Mims tased by Birmingham police during ‘5th quarter’: What we know today

 

I Would absolutely say yes?

 

5th quarter concerts are a tradition for many HBCU bands after a game is over. The U of Wisconsin holds one too. U of Arizona has a parade and concert on the steps of the Student Union (a 3 minute walk from the stadium) after every game.

Hard to tell from the video, but the cops knew a 5th quarter was happening, but the time for the bands to play was over. But instead of calming walking over to the director, politely asking him for this to be the last song, and leave when the song was over, the cops were confrontational from the start. Let the band kids play.

 

I don’t know… maybe there’s some ordinance or statute, but it seems strange that being able to tell a band to stop playing on school grounds is a lawful order.

 

It really sounds like there was a lot more to the story that hasn't been released most likely any electronic crowd under control and get everybody out of there.

 

I didn't say they were out of control I said the cops were trying to prevent anything from getting out of control, that makes more since than the cops just wanting to go home.