Category: News Release

Kathy Montgomery (left) and Kinda McKinney-Anderson (Right) hold vigil outside courthouse on April 4, 2023.
Dewayne Jones, DRACO, Event, Events, News Release, Oversight, Police Brutality, Police Commission, Sheldy Smith

DRACO’s Response to Dewayne Jones Assault Case Outcome

boman4detroit

By Scotty Boman, Founder
Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight

On April 4th Sargent Dewayne B. Jones was scheduled for a Final pretrial hearing, in the courtroom of Honorable E. Lynise Bryant on assault charges. These were pertaining to the emergency room beating of patient Sheldy Smith on August 1st 2018. However, nothing was streamed from that courtroom that morning. The register of action for that hearing indicated that the defense had requested an adjournment, in other-words the hearing was to be postponed. As of the evening of April 4th, no new hearing date was posted.

Members of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO) and other concerned citizens, had been vigilant in following the court schedule. The April 4th hearing was to be the 4th “final” pre-trial hearing. At previous “final” pre-trial hearings the prosecution and defense attorneys said the were still in negotiations for a possible agreement. They were outside the 36th District that day to express their displeasure with the way this case was handled and with the failure of the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) to Provide meaningful civilian oversight of the Detroit Police Department.

Kathy Montgomery (left) and Kinda McKinney-Anderson (Right) hold vigil outside courthouse on April 4, 2023.
Kathy Montgomery (left) and Kinda McKinney-Anderson (Right) hold vigil outside courthouse on April 4, 2023.

On April 5th the Register of actions revealed that there had been a hearing on the morning of April 4th, and that the charge had been changed to Disorderly Conduct. It also showed a plea of nolo contendere on the part of Jones. There was an additional hearing on April 5th where a sentencing hearing for May 12th was Scheduled (thereby implying that the court had found Jones to be guilty).

I have heard from a number of community members who share my opinion that the courts and prosecution have been far too lenient on Dewayne Jones. The felony misconduct charges should be reintroduced (if possible under the new plea agreement). Reclassifying the assault to being disorderly conduct doesn’t change the fact that said conduct was an act of violence. There is some solace in the fact that the courts have, again, found jones guilty of a crime. Based on his plea he won’t be able to appeal this misdemeanor.

Still it was an injustice that Jones got probation on the initial assault charge with no jail time. We are hopeful, but not holding our breath, that the court will have Jones serve some time on this latest charge. It was also unjust for him to be promoted to Sargent from Corporal while the prior guilty verdict was still in effect. The city failed to address the contractual loophole that enabled Jones to be promoted, in violation of the Detroit City Charter, after the BOPC had unanimously denied it.

Still the greatest injustice is the fact that the victim, Sheldy Smith, has been held against her will (at the Walter P. Reuther Hospital), without charge, and prohibited from giving her side of the story. Family members, including her Sister Ashley, have been denied visitation or communication with her. Meanwhile her victimizer walks free.

DRACO members, NAN members, and Sacred Heart Minister Eric Blount Demanding acountability in the DPD. Literacy activist John Telford in front.
DRACO, Events, News Release, Police Brutality, Police Commission

Dewayne Jones (Cop on video beating patient) Third Pretrial for Third Trial This

boman4detroit

NEWS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Scotty Boman, D.R.A.C.O. Founder (Event organizer)
Phone: (313) 247-2052 [Voice Only] Texting Phone: (313) 338-9769 [Text Only]
ScottyEducation@yahoo.com
Draco.Life

Ashley Smith, victim’s sister
Phone:  (254) 290-7303
justice4sheldy@gmail.com

Lory Parks, National Action Network
Phone: (313) 492-6774
February 24th, 2023

Dewayne Jones (Cop on video beating patient) Third Pretrial for Third Trial This Friday

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When: Hearing at 9:10 AM News Conference 11:00 AM Friday February 24th. 
Where: 36th District Court building 421 Madison Street. Detroit, MI 48226.
Hearing: “Court room” of Honorable E. Lynise Bryant.
(There is a link to view the hearing remotely in the 36th District Court website).
Third “Pre-trial Hearing” for Case No. 1806106901. Dewayne Berran Jones. Assault and battery case.
Why now? Dewayne Jones’ 3nd pretrial hearing (for his third trial) is at 9:10 AM.

Detroit, MI – Sargent Dewayne B. Jones is scheduled to have a third trial. The first pretrial hearing, for this third trial, was on November 1st 2022 but prosecuting attorney Joshua Holman asked for an extension. He said he wanted more time to discuss the potential of a third trial with the defense. The same thing happened again on December 20th and the prosecutor gave the same reason.  Previously, a hung jury caused a mistrial on October 14th. The first jury trial ended in a verdict of “Guilty” in the  August 1st 2018 assault of emergency room patient and mother Sheldy Smith. Jones was a corporal at the time of the conviction. The second trial was granted in response to an appeal.

Members of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO), National Action Network, and others, Will hold a news conference outside the 36th District Court, at 11:00 AM this Friday to give their reaction to the outcome of the hearing. They will also express their outrage with the injustice surrounding the August 2018 beating of hospital patient Sheldy Smith by then-Corporal Dewayne B. Jones. They called for reforms and a more effective Board of Police Commissioners.

Jones was convicted of assault and battery in connection with the beating, but received a promotion to the rank of Sergeant by the Detroit Police Department. His penalty for the assault was probation, but he could still be tried for a felony misconduct charge because it was dismissed without prejudice on January 15th 2019. Activists are calling on Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to reintroduce those charges, given the large amount of video evidence that surfaced, and the fact that Jones still had a badge and a gun while on probation.

On April 21st 2021 Jones was granted a new trial. On Wednesday January 12th he had the initial pre-trial hearing in the courtroom of Judge E. Lynise Bryant at 11:00 AM.  On August 1st the Final Pretrial was rescheduled to August 10th.

DRACO founder Scotty Boman said, “Dewayne Jones was able to get a promotion in spite of being a convicted violent criminal…He wasn’t held accountable.  Now he is trying to be exonerated while his victim (Sheldy Smith) remains captive and isolated from her family.  This isn’t justice.”

-END-

#Justice4Sheldy
Detroit Charter, DRACO, Event, Events, News Release, Oversight, Police Brutality, Police Commission, Uncategorized

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: D.R.A.C.O. Organizes 2nd #Virtual Protest Against Promoting Violent Detroit Police

boman4detroit

NEWS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ashley Smith

Victim’s Sister

justice4sheldy@gmail.com

(254) 290-7303
Event video: https://youtu.be/TYLizRALRcc

#Justice4Sheldy #JusticeForSheldy

 

Scotty Boman, D.R.A.C.O. Founder
Phone: (313) 247-2052
scottyboman@hotmail.com

Draco.Life

April 16th, 2020

 

D.R.A.C.O. Organizes 2nd  #Virtual Protest Against Promoting Violent Detroit Police Corporal

Detroit, MI – Members of the victim’s family, and community organizers are outraged by arbitrator George Roumell’s claim that Detroit Police Corporal Dewayne Jones should be promoted to Sergeant, and are resolved to hold a virtual protest at the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) meeting this Thursday (April 23rd, 2020) at 3:00 PM.  The protest will include statements during the “Oral Communication” portion of the meeting. Dewayne Jones was convicted of assault on March 19th 2019 in the August 2018 beating Detroit Receiving Emergency Room patient Sheldy Smith.

 

Smith’s sister Ashley wrote a letter that will be on this Thursday’s agenda. She previously produced a video to promote the first protest.  In which she said,

My name is Ashley and I am the sister of the victim in this video. I am a Central Michigan University graduate and a disabled U.S. Army vet. Please join D.R.A.C.O. (Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight), my family, and the residents of Detroit in a virtual protest to stop the promotion of convicted criminal, Detroit Police Corporal Dewayne Jones.

 

On April 16th Grant Ha restated the same information he first shared on April 9th and that he still didn’t have the official document from the arbitrator. At their April 9th meeting Detroit Police Department (DPD) attorney Grant Ha announced the decision by appointed arbitrator George Roumell to promote Corporal Dewayne Jones to the rank of Sergeant. Roumell sent the message to Ha by email, but a Ha said he expected a formal letter to follow.  On January 16th the BOPC voted unanimously to reject the promotion. The Detroit City Charter says all promotions must be approved by the BOPC.

 

At the meeting on April 16th Boman, founder of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO) said,

We must make it clear that we don’t recognize any effort by anyone to usurp the Board’s final authority on promotions. It is their duty to instruct the DPD to refrain from this promotion, and to instead, dismiss this bad apple from the company of Detroit’s finest. This may be challenged in court. Insubordinate elements in the DPD may try to defy the Board. It is their duty to take on court challenges and dismiss insubordinates.

 

The meeting (and thereby the protest) will be via the Zoom meeting app at: https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/397380647?pwd=S1kzVzU4RURFb2NBRGJIb1kwWVNjdz09

 

By telephone, call one of these numbers:

1 (929) 436-2866, 1 (312) 626-6799, 1 (346) 248-7799,

1 (301) 715-8592, 1 (669) 900-6833, 1 (253) 215-8782

Enter the BOPC Meeting ID 397380647 and press ##

 

The virtual meeting will use a form for public comments:

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d26fa38cc5e94a018836d065000714ce

Link to agenda: https://draco4life.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/agendaapril23-2020.pdf

DRACO, Event, Events, News Release, Oversight, Police Brutality, Police Commission

D.R.A.C.O. Organizes #Virtual Protest Against Promoting Violent Detroit Police Corporal

boman4detroit

News advisory in PDF format.

NEWS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ashley Smith
Victim’s Sister
justice4sheldy@gmail.com
(254) 290-7303
Event video: https://youtu.be/Ber5ZfUMarE
#Justice4Sheldy #JusticeForSheldy

Scotty Boman, D.R.A.C.O. Founder
Phone: (313) 247-2052
scottyboman@hotmail.com

Draco.Life

April 16th , 2020

D.R.A.C.O. Organizes #Virtual Protest Against Promoting Violent Detroit Police Corporal

Detroit, MI – Members of the victim’s family, and community organizers are outraged by arbitrator George Roumell’s claim that Detroit Police Corporal Dewayne Jones should be promoted to Sergeant, and are resolved to hold a virtual protest at the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) meeting this afternoon (April 16th, 2020).  The protest will include statements during the “Oral Communication” portion of the meeting. Dewayne Jones was convicted of assault on March 19th 2019 in the August 2018 beating Detroit Receiving Emergency Room patient Sheldy Smith.

Smith’s sister Ashley has produced a video to promote the protest.  In it she said,

My name is Ashley and I am the sister of the victim in this video. I am a Central Michigan University graduate and a disabled U.S. Army vet. Please join D.R.A.C.O. (Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight), my family, and the residents of Detroit in a virtual protest against the promotion of convicted criminal, Detroit Police Corporal Dewayne Jones.

At their April 9th meeting Detroit Police Department (DPD) attorney Grant Ha announced the decision by appointed arbitrator George Roumell to promote Corporal Dewayne Jones to the rank of Sergeant. Roumell sent the message to Ha by email, but a Ha said he expected a formal letter to follow.  On January 16th the BOPC voted unanimously to reject the promotion. The Detroit City Charter says all promotions must be approved by the BOPC.

Boman, founder of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO) said,

We must make it clear that we don’t recognize any effort by anyone to usurp the Board’s final authority on promotions. It is their duty to instruct the DPD to refrain from this promotion, and to instead, dismiss this bad apple from the company of Detroit’s finest. This may be challenged in court. Insubordinate elements in the DPD may try to defy the Board. It is their duty to take on court challenges and dismiss insubordinates.

The meeting (and thereby the protest) will be via the Zoom meeting app at: https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/397380647?pwd=S1kzVzU4RURFb2NBRGJIb1kwWVNjdz09

By telephone, call one of these numbers:
1 (929) 436-2866, 1 (312) 626-6799, 1 (346) 248-7799,
1 (301) 715-8592, 1 (669) 900-6833, 1 (253) 215-8782
Enter the BOPC Meeting ID 397380647 and press ##

The virtual meeting will use a form for public comments:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d26fa38cc5e94a018836d065000714ce

Link to agenda: https://draco4life.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/agendaapril-16-2020.pdf

DRACO, News Release, Police Brutality, Police Commission, Police Community Relations, Uncategorized

Community Activists Condemn Pending Promotion, Promise Consequences

boman4detroit

NEWS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact information for all quoted individuals is readily available from…

Scotty Boman, D.R.A.C.O. Founder
Phone: (313) 247-2052
scottyboman@hotmail.com

Draco.Life

January. 14th , 2020

 

Community Activists Condemn Pending Promotion, Promise Consequences

Detroit, MI – A coalition of community organizers are outraged by Detroit Police Chief James Craig’s recommendation that Corporal Dewayne Jones be promoted to Sergeant, and are prepared to recall any police commissioner who votes to approve the promotion.  Dewayne Jones was convicted of assault on March 19th 2019 in the August 2018 beating hospital patient Sheldy Smith.

 

Plans for the promotion were made public at the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners meeting last Thursday at the ACC Youth Center. 62 W Seven Mile Rd, Detroit, MI 48203.  Chairperson Lisa Carter read an excerpt of the Chief’s recommendation, to promote Jones to the rank of Sergeant, to attendees as part of her officer’s report. Craig issued the recommendation on January 8th and cited DPOA Grievance number 18-044 as a factor.

 

Boman, founder of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO) said “I am deeply disturbed by this development and it’s time to put the commissioners on notice.  We already have people prepared to initiate the recall process in five of Detroit’s seven districts, and I am confident that we will be ready to recall the other two shortly.  Any of the seven district commissioners who votes to promote this person will face a recall.” The five activist are Marilyn Jordan of Detroit People’s Task Force (District #1), Scotty Boman (District #4), Valerie Glenn (District #5), former DPS Board member Elena Herrada (District #6), and Michigan National Action Network board member Lory Parks (District #7).

 

Marilyn Jordan said, “The suggestion of a promotion for Mr. Jones from our Police Chief sends mixed messages. When we-the-people are faced with lies, corruption, wrongful convictions and falsified evidence – the trust within the community is broken, and will not be restored until the leadership produces integrity!”

 

Valerie Glenn – Simons said, “As a lifelong resident of the City of Detroit, the widow of a Detroit Police Official, Detroit Police Commissioner monitor and “woman” – I am aggrieved and angry to learn that Corporal Jones has been recommended to be promoted, without being properly reprimanded or fired, because of conducting police malfeasance. Furthermore I am angry and in a state of disbelief that Corporal has been recommended or promoted. How dare you Chief Craig! This should be cause for firing.”

 

Lory Parks said, “When the Board of Police Commissioners do vote on Officer D. Jones for Sergeant, the vote should be a ‘No!!!’”

 

Eric Blount said, “The Promotion is a shocking increase in the special treatment Mr. Jones has received at almost every turn.  From the judge removing the felony charges – to being lead out the courtroom though the same judge’s chamber – to the silence and secrecy of his employment status whenever questioned – to the Chief’s delay discipline until appeal process is complete (I’ve never heard of this delay reasoning) – to the second video from a police officer surfacing a year later and Chief’s strange comments at the private viewing.”

 

Minister Fuqua-Bey of Moorish Science Temple #25 said, “”Law enforcement is to serve and protect, not try to break Citizens’s necks.”

 

Property owner Linda Hegyi, who  left the city due to frustration with crime and corruption said, “This is a slap in the face to people suffering from mental illness and the innocent victims of excessive force and brutality by police officers.”

-END-