This is complete insanity. Read the whole story.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama high school band director said Wednesday that he was just “doing my job” when police officers arrested him and shocked him with a stun gun after he refused to immediately stop the band as it played in the bleachers following a football game.
@voltronic Speaking as a teacher, it may be that some of the band kids were doing something they shouldn't. This pissed off the police who tried to get control of the situation by having the band director stop. They interpreted his refusal as complicity and resisting their authority so zap.
I seriously doubt we have all the facts. It may be he was simply caught up in something but he may also have been lying about being complicit. We may never know.
@voltronic Also, police routinely attend sporting events where I live. Their presence is a deterrent against crime and fights. We're happy they're there.
@danielbsmith
I'm a teacher also (music) and have attended many band events. I have certainly seen band directors allowing their students to behave poorly, but a school administrator typically attends games and would get involved.
You are most likely correct that there's more to the story, but the bodycam recording seems to me like the police were in the wrong.
@voltronic I haven't seen the recording. I'm just hearing the story through bits and pieces.
But if a policeman asked me to stop doing a thing I would comply. My next action would be to ask why. That they tazed him for not stopping seems like a disproportionate response.
How long is the video and when does it start? That's often telling. They're most likely going to claim he disobeyed an officer and the camera footage was released to prove that and only that.