LAKELAND, Fla. — The city of Lakeland is denying a request from the NAACP to release police body cam video of a confrontation between at least two officers and a teenager this past Memorial Day.
Community activists accuse officers of overreacting when they arrested 16-year-old Jahmal Hudson and say releasing that video would help address transparency concerns.
“All I ask, and I think all that the community asks, is to be as transparent as possible,” Lakeland NAACP Branch President Terry Coney said.
Coney asked city leaders to release any police body cam video of or leading up to a Memorial Day confrontation between two officers and 16-year-old Jamal Hudson.
“In our digital world, and social media world, that video has gone viral around,” Coney said. “...I got multiple calls and texts from all over.”
The video has, again, brought allegations of police brutality at Lakeland PD, where, this past weekend, dozens protested — demanding answers and accountability.
“I think they really need to look deeper into the training and de-escalation that our officers get,” Coney said.
The available video, taken by a witness, shows Hudson being punched, his hair pulled and then shot with a taser as he’s knocked to the ground.
His mother says it all stemmed from a minor trespassing call during a holiday pool party at a nearby apartment complex.
“Go get the bodycam,” said Ja'Tae Lewis, Jahmal's mother. “Y'all are supposed to have those on. Especially in incidents like this.”
Hudson has been charged with trespassing, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest. He is scheduled to be back in juvenile court later this week.
Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz said, for now, they were denying the NAACP's request to release any body cam video citing procedures in Florida’s Officer Bill of Rights, which applies to any situation in which a law enforcement agency is conducting an internal investigation of a law enforcement officer.
“And we will make a statement through the city as soon as that is done,” Mutz said. “But until then we want to follow due process.”
The mayor did, however, acknowledge the community's unease and promised the incident has their attention.
“I appreciate your concern,” Mutz said. “And I think it's probably shared by everyone that we do what's right and so we will pursue that.”