Police used taser on Texas city councilman as he was kneeling on ground, Prairie View City Councilman Jonathan Miller was kneeling on the ground when the taser struck his back, electric shocks that made him scream in pain as his muscles tensed and then went into spasms.
“I just stiffened up, started shaking, almost convulsing,” the 26-year-old Miller said Tuesday in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Officers arrested Miller, 26, on suspicion of interfering with a public servant and resisting arrest, then drove Miller to the same jail where Sandra Bland was found dead in her cell three months ago, one of several high-profile cases this year that have fueled a national debate about racial profiling and police use of force.
“I didn’t go to sleep until very early in the morning,” Miller, who is black, said of the incident on Oct. 8. “I didn’t know what could happen.”Miller’s arrest has outraged some of his council colleagues, and Prairie View Mayor Frank Jackson has called a special council meeting with the police chief on Thursday. Miller said he would be there.
Most of the elected officials in this historically black college town are African American, including the mayor, police chief, city council and all but one member of the small police force.
Police Chief Larry Johnson told The Times on Tuesday that it was too early to determine whether officers used excessive force in arresting Miller, but, "if we made mistakes, we will correct them."
At least one council member has demanded that police release all dashboard and body camera footage so they can judge for themselves whether Miller’s arrest was warranted. Johnson said they have released the videos on YouTube, including body camera videos from the two officers involved and three dash camera videos on Tuesday.
"This is not a department that goes around violating people's rights," Johnson said outside City Hall after meeting with prosecutors. "We put all the videos out there so people can see we have nothing to hide. I welcome the scrutiny."
Johnson said he was limited in what he could discuss because of the ongoing investigation and was not sure he would attend Thursday's council meeting.
A spokesman for the Waller County district attorney’s office said Tuesday that prosecutors were still working with police and that no charges had been filed against Miller. Miller spoke briefly when he was released from jail Friday without bond, and after an impromptu news conference called by the mayor and police chief Monday. But he has waited to tell his story, he said, because he wanted people to watch the videos and judge for themselves.
“Once they see the video, I think people realize this didn’t have to happen,” he said.
Video footage of Sandra Bland’s July traffic stop and authorities’ narrative of the incident helped fuel debate about the circumstances of her arrest and the police tactics involved. Bland, 28, who was black, argued with officers, was arrested and jailed. Days later, she was found dead in her cell, in what was later ruled a suicide. Her family has filed a wrongful-death suit against state and county law enforcement.
In one of the newly released videos of Miller, which does not include audio, he can be seen stepping back as a police officer steps toward him, ordering him to retreat from his friends, one of whom stands with his hands up during the interaction, eventually recording video of police actions with his phone.
“I just stiffened up, started shaking, almost convulsing,” the 26-year-old Miller said Tuesday in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Officers arrested Miller, 26, on suspicion of interfering with a public servant and resisting arrest, then drove Miller to the same jail where Sandra Bland was found dead in her cell three months ago, one of several high-profile cases this year that have fueled a national debate about racial profiling and police use of force.
“I didn’t go to sleep until very early in the morning,” Miller, who is black, said of the incident on Oct. 8. “I didn’t know what could happen.”Miller’s arrest has outraged some of his council colleagues, and Prairie View Mayor Frank Jackson has called a special council meeting with the police chief on Thursday. Miller said he would be there.
Most of the elected officials in this historically black college town are African American, including the mayor, police chief, city council and all but one member of the small police force.
Police Chief Larry Johnson told The Times on Tuesday that it was too early to determine whether officers used excessive force in arresting Miller, but, "if we made mistakes, we will correct them."
At least one council member has demanded that police release all dashboard and body camera footage so they can judge for themselves whether Miller’s arrest was warranted. Johnson said they have released the videos on YouTube, including body camera videos from the two officers involved and three dash camera videos on Tuesday.
"This is not a department that goes around violating people's rights," Johnson said outside City Hall after meeting with prosecutors. "We put all the videos out there so people can see we have nothing to hide. I welcome the scrutiny."
Johnson said he was limited in what he could discuss because of the ongoing investigation and was not sure he would attend Thursday's council meeting.
A spokesman for the Waller County district attorney’s office said Tuesday that prosecutors were still working with police and that no charges had been filed against Miller. Miller spoke briefly when he was released from jail Friday without bond, and after an impromptu news conference called by the mayor and police chief Monday. But he has waited to tell his story, he said, because he wanted people to watch the videos and judge for themselves.
“Once they see the video, I think people realize this didn’t have to happen,” he said.
Video footage of Sandra Bland’s July traffic stop and authorities’ narrative of the incident helped fuel debate about the circumstances of her arrest and the police tactics involved. Bland, 28, who was black, argued with officers, was arrested and jailed. Days later, she was found dead in her cell, in what was later ruled a suicide. Her family has filed a wrongful-death suit against state and county law enforcement.
In one of the newly released videos of Miller, which does not include audio, he can be seen stepping back as a police officer steps toward him, ordering him to retreat from his friends, one of whom stands with his hands up during the interaction, eventually recording video of police actions with his phone.
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