AKRON, Ohio – Two days after the release of police bodycam videos related to the death of 54-year-old Michael Jones, the president of the Akron chapter of the NAACP is raising some questions and concerns.
Judi Hill, who viewed two bodycam videos and a gas station surveillance video, said she was disturbed that an officer told Jones he was under arrest but did not tell him why.
“First, we could have de-escalated the situation by acknowledging who he was as an officer and why we stopped this person at 1 a.m.,” Hill said.
According to police, at around 1:04 a.m. on August 17, an officer approached a U-Haul truck in the parking lot of the Duke and Duchess gas station on East Avenue.
The vehicle was reported stolen. In the videos, an unnamed officer approaches the vehicle and repeatedly asks Jones to get out.
Jones can be heard asking: “What’s going on?” and “What for?”
A second officer approaches and videos show both officers partially entering the U-Haul on the driver’s side.
Moments later, an altercation broke out in the vehicle that lasted about 15 seconds.
The gas station’s surveillance video shows the truck driving away while some of the officers are still in the truck.
According to APD, two shots were fired. Jones was hit. Officers removed him from the vehicle and handcuffed him.
Officers administered first aid, but Jones died at the scene.
“I don’t think it was necessary to lose a life in this situation,” Hill said.
Body camera footage shows officers found a gun “on or near” Jones after he was shot and removed from the vehicle. It’s not clear if any of the officers saw the gun during the altercation in the U-Haul.
Hill questioned whether it was necessary for the officers to get into the U-Haul.
“Why they were in the vehicle, I don’t know. I don’t know if it was necessary. It’s scary, and I can’t put myself in their minds. All I can tell you is this: There are things we could do differently, and training, training, and good training, often on how to deal with people, is so critical,” Hill said.
National law enforcement expert Tim Dimoff said that generally, it would not be the right course of action for police officers to enter a vehicle, but after watching the videos, he is convinced that officers were trying to get Jones out of the U-Haul when things suddenly went wrong.
“All of a sudden he speeds off and they get stuck in the truck,” said Dimoff. “That was very dangerous for the officers.”
Dimoff said in those moments, the shooting officer may have sensed that his life or the lives of others were in danger.
“We must clearly demonstrate that the driver resisted arrest and actually increased his use of force to the point where he caused death or serious bodily harm to the officers,” Dimoff said.
The Ohio BCI is investigating the fatal shooting. The case will ultimately be presented to a Summit County grand jury.
The officer who fired his weapon has been on the force for two years. He was placed on paid administrative leave.
After the shooting, Brian Lucey, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Akron Lodge #7, said it was a difficult situation for everyone involved.
“We are confident that when all the facts come to light, our officer’s actions will be deemed justified,” Lucey said.
RELATED: Body camera footage shows the shooting of Michael Donnell Jones by Akron police
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