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Jerime Mitchell: Controversial $25 Dash Cam Video Of Cedar Rapids Police Shooting May Reveal Truth

By Paula Mooney
Published on: 13:18 PST, Nov 14, 2016

The name Jerime Mitchell has approximately 60,000 people talking about Jerime’s plight, according to Facebook. The hashtag #JusticeForDanky is also gaining buzz. At the center of the controversy about what really happened to Mitchell prior to being shot and directly after Jerime was shot by a police officer could reside in a simple $25 dash cam video, which is how much the Cedar Rapids Police Department charges the public for a video recording.

According to authorities, that $25 must be “paid by cash, check or money order payable to the Cedar Rapids Police Department.”

As reported by KWWL, the desire for the release of the dash cam video footage of Jerime’s shooting has increased, because so many questions have gone unanswered since the 37-year-old Mitchell was shot near Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, November 1.

Mitchell was shot by Officer Lucas Jones, who has been placed on paid administrative leave.

The Gazette reports that the shooting of Jerime — who is nicknamed “Danky” — has brought supporters of Mitchell out in protest of the shooting that has left Jerime paralyzed from the neck down. Facebook posts like the following are encouraging people to use legal means to gain more information about the shooting.

“Domonique Walton shared The Gazette‘s post: Tomorrow at 4:00 at the city council meeting. Stand along side others who want to see #JusticeForDanky this event will be held at the city hall!”

[Image by John Minchillo/AP Images]

Supporters of Mitchell have plans to visit the Cedar Rapids City Council meeting on Tuesday to find out more about why Officer Jones shot Jerime.

The demands from Mitchell’s supporters include wanting to see what really happened — as proved by any dash cam video footage and images — which have not yet been released to the public.

The Justice For Danky – CR Council Meeting has been set up as a Facebook event on Tuesday, November 15, at 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. CST at Cedar Rapids City Hall.

Jerime’s friends, family members, and loved ones also want to know why Mitchell was stopped by police — along with what exactly transpired between Mitchell and Officer Lucas.

Officer Jones was previously involved in a different shooting with another officer in 2015, which was deemed as justified, as reported by the Gazette.

Whether or not Jerime’s shooting was justified or not is what is at the heart of this latest controversy.

[Image by John Minchillo/AP Images]

There are wildly varying reports about what really happened to Mitchell being published on social media.

The anger over Jerime’s shooting by police is building, because certain reports on social media claim that Mitchell was sitting in his vehicle with his seatbelt on when the police officer opened fire on him, causing Jerime to lose control of his vehicle and crash into a police vehicle.

Other reports claim there was some sort of argument between Mitchell and Officer Jones, with claims that Jerime engaged in a chase with authorities.

The frustration at the lack of video evidence being released to the public only compounds the confusion of the actual facts.

Any punishment that will be leveled against Officer Jones is an additional fact that Jerime’s supporters want revealed — along with an investigation outside of ones conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Linn County Attorney’s Office.

The reasons why Jerime was stopped on Coe Road NE at approximately 1:15 a.m. the morning Mitchell was shot have still not been provided to the public — neither has the controversial video footage in question.

What is known at this point is that Jerime was shot in his neck by Officer Jones — and the bullet that landed in his spine has left Jerime paralyzed.

A petition demanding the dash cam video — which potentially shows Jerime being shot — has gained about 500 signatures and might have some success, so could continued demands by the public to release the video findings via the Cedar Rapids Police Department form — or via a Freedom of Information Act.

As reported by the Federal government, FOIA requests can be made via the below information.

“FOIA/PA Mail Referral Unit

Justice Management Division

Room 115

LOC Building

Washington, DC 20530-0001

(202) 616-3847 (Telephone)

MRUFOIA.Requests@usdoj.gov (Request via Email)”

Even though police claim that premature release of the dash cam video could compromise the investigation of the case involving Officer Jones and Jerime, and that the video will only be released as a matter of public record if no criminal charges are filed, those demanding to know the truth about Mitchell’s shooting may find success without having to wait until those decisions are made.

[Featured Image by Charlie Riedel/AP Images]

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