Watch Johnny Mims Arrested and Charged: Is Alabama Band Manager Now in Jail (Full Video)
Delve into the details of Johnny Mims’ arrest and legal troubles as the Alabama Band’s director found himself embroiled in a controversy that rocked the Birmingham community.
Johnny Mims, serving as the band director at Minor High School in Adamsville, Alabama, faced summons and arrest by Birmingham law enforcement officers on September 16, 2023. This followed an alleged refusal to halt his band’s performance after a high school football game.
The incident triggered a wave of outrage and contention within the community, with some accusing the police of excessive force and infringing upon Mims’ rights. Conversely, others defended the police actions as necessary to maintain order and safety.
Mims faced charges of disorderly conduct, physical harassment, and resisting arrest, eventually being released on bail after spending a night in custody. His legal team has pledged to take action against the Birmingham Police Department, which has initiated an internal investigation into the incident.
Johnny Mims’ Arrest: Is the Alabama Band’s Manager Currently Incarcerated?
No, the Alabama Band director is no longer incarcerated; he was released on bail after being charged with three offenses. According to the Birmingham Police Department, the incident unfolded around 9:30 p.m. at PD Jackson-Olin High School, where both the Minor and Jackson-Olin high school bands had performed during and after the football game.
Police stated that approximately 20 minutes after the game concluded, they attempted to clear the stadium and requested both band directors to cease their students’ performances. Jackson-Olin’s group complied, but Mims did not. He ignored their repeated requests and continued to lead his band.
They played music as part of the “fifth quarter,” a marching band tradition often seen at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), where students continue to perform music after a game concludes.
Police released body camera footage of the September 19 incident, depicting a police officer approaching Mims in the stands and instructing him to stop the performance. Mims repeatedly told the officer to “get out of my face” and responded with “That’s cool” when warned of potential arrest.
Another woman in the video, seemingly a school official, attempted to persuade Mims to stop the performance, but he refused. The video then captured a confrontation between Mims and at least two police officers who sought to handcuff him amidst a crowd of students and spectators.
The altercation escalated, with officers attempting to detain Mims while he resisted arrest and denied striking an officer. The stadium lights went out during the melee, adding to the chaos.
Mims was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the hospital for treatment. He was then booked into Birmingham City Jail on three charges: disorderly conduct, physical harassment, and resisting arrest. Mims was released on bail on September 17.
Charges Against Johnny Mims: What Did He Allegedly Do?
Mims faced three misdemeanor charges for his actions during the incident before being released on bail on September 17. According to Alabama law, disorderly conduct encompasses “fighting or violent, tumultuous, or threatening behavior” and creating “unreasonable noise.”
Physical harassment involves “hitting, shoving, kicking, or otherwise subjecting them to physical contact.” The penalty for physical harassment is a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
Resisting arrest is defined as “intentionally preventing a peace officer from making a lawful arrest of himself or another person.” The penalty for resisting arrest is a fine of up to $6,000 or imprisonment of up to one year, or both.
Mims has retained a legal team led by state attorney Juandalynn Givan. Givan asserted that Mims’ legal team would investigate the incident, including the involvement of the Alabama Education Association, and intends to take legal action against the Birmingham Police Department.
Givan further claimed that the director was “unlawfully arrested” and subjected to “brutalization” by the police, accusing them of violating Mims’ civil rights and employing excessive force. In his statement, Givan noted a long-standing tradition of HBCU groups not receiving respect from the police.
The Birmingham Police Department has requested public patience and cooperation as it conducts an internal review of the incident. Chief Scott Thurmond affirmed his commitment to maintaining a positive relationship with the community through transparency and open dialogue.