After a long battle for access to the footage, the family of a Black man who died after being tased by an Alabama police officer in July finally had the opportunity to view the body camera video on Wednesday. Family attorney Harry Daniels described the video as “one of the worst videos of a police killing” he has ever witnessed, comparing it to the George Floyd case. This comes after a grand jury declined to indict the two police officers involved in the incident.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of police use of force, particularly against people of color. It has been more than three years since George Floyd’s murder at the hands of a Minneapolis officer, yet these incidents continue to occur. Jawan Dallas, 36, died after Mobile police officers responded to a report of a residential burglary in progress. When officers tried to apprehend Dallas, he physically resisted. The situation escalated when officers asked for identification and Dallas claimed they had done nothing illegal.
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According to Daniels, Dallas attempted to run away after being asked to step out of his vehicle. He was tackled to the ground, and the video reportedly captured officers striking him multiple times and using a Taser. Dallas can be heard begging for his life and saying, “I cannot breathe, help me … I don’t want to be George Floyd.” Medical personnel were called to the scene, but Dallas was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Dallas’ father expressed his grief and anger, accusing the Mobile Police Department of murdering his son. He claimed that officers held him down, pounded on him, and stunned him multiple times with a Taser, triggering a heart attack. The autopsy revealed injuries consistent with Taser applications and blunt force trauma to Dallas’ back. The cause of death was listed as cardiorespiratory failure due to acute myocardial ischemia and methamphetamine toxicity.
The names of the officers involved have not been released, and the video has not been made public. Daniels expressed hope that it would be released in the future, but warned that it would be a disturbing and unforgettable sight. The case serves as another tragic reminder of the need for police reform and accountability in the face of excessive use of force.
