Jonathan Miller, 26, was on his knees with his hands by his side when he was tased on Thursday night by Prairie View Texas Police.
Advertisement
A city councilman was tasered in the same small Texas town where Sandra Bland died in police custody. Jonathan Miller said his fraternity brothers were practicing a step dance routine when a police officer stopped to investigate. “I live here.” After he refuses to put his hands behind his back (and doesn’t move) after being told by both the male and female officer present, they taser him.
During that conversation, Miller, 29, came forward, identified himself as a councilman and allegedly interrupted the officers, authorities said.
According to Prairie View police, officers approached four men and questioned them about recent disturbances or suspicious activity in the area. “Mr. Miller continued to resist, even after repeated commands to stop”.
At least two witnesses to the arrest said they believed the police officer who deployed his Taser used excessive force.
Miller said after being released from jail that he does not think he resisted arrest. “He got him on the ground so easily, he’s only 130 pounds”. Miller is also black. The arresting officer, a woman, has not been named.
In cell phone video of the arrest – which was posted to YouTube – Bland can be heard questioning officers’ tactics, accusing them of slamming her to the ground.
Johnson added that he hadn’t “seen anything that gives me cause for concern as far as at this point”.
Prairie View Mayor Frank Jackson (left) and police chief Larry Johnson at a press release on Friday, October 9, 2015.
‘We have six police officers.
The councilman allegedly disrupted the investigation by asking questions and speaking to officers about five times, affidavits state.
He bonded out of the Waller County jail Friday morning.
Advertisement
As for councilman Miller, he was charged with interfering with public duties and resisting arrest.
