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

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-

DRACO, Oversight, Police Brutality, Police Commission

Statement from D.R.A.C.O. After the Trial of Dewayne B. Jones

On the afternoon of September 13th Defense Council Margaret S. Raben and Prosecuting attorney Joshua C. Holman delivered closing arguments, and the fate Sargent Dewayne Jones was placed in the hands of the Jury.

Jones is charged with the misdemeanor assault of patient and mother Sheldy R. Smith on August 1st 2018 at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Scotty Boman is the founder of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO). This is his statement on behalf of that group:

In the first days of the trial the court performed its due diligence in impaneling an impartial jury. The court limited arguments to avoid the introduction of opinions from civilians as to whether Jones’s use of force was reasonable. The defense made compelling arguments that Jones may have needed to use force during the encounter, however she failed to show that it was necessary, or legally reasonable, for Jones to punch Smith during critical moments. On Monday she even asked for a directed verdict.

The prosecuting attorney emphasized that, under law, force must be permissible at the time that the action occurred or the defendant’s behavior would be a battery. So the moments that mattered were the same moments captured by cell-phone videographer Ciara Morgen, who was in the waiting room when the beating started. Under law the force must be necessary for defensive purposes or for an officer to carry out his lawful duty.

At the time the Jones began punching Smith, she was being lifted up by another officer, the other officer had her restrained while Jones delivered a dozen punches. He continued punching her after hospital staff indicated they had her, including blows to the back of her head and back while she was turned away from him. While her words were offensive and disturbing, Ms. Smith never hit any of the people involved. She struggled to break free, but not to attack. Clearly, as the prosecution indicated, there was no credible claim to self-defense. During those moments, it was not necessary to strike her as she was being restrained. One officer even tried to pull Jones back from Sheldy.

Clearly, the people proved their case. Jones is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Felony misconduct charges should also be reinstated. But this case is bigger than one man or one woman. There is clearly a need for systemic change. The Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC), in consultation with the Detroit Police Department (DPD), needs to revise use of force policies to unambiguously limit “hard hand” or “closed hand” (BKA Punching) to circumstances where it is the most effective method and is necessary. The new contract between the DPD and the Detroit Police Officers Association must include language that recognizes the authority of the BOPC as described in the Detroit City Charter.”

Outcome

On September 14th Judge Bryant declared a mistrial due to a hopelessly deadlocked Jury.

On November 1st There was a pretrial hearing, but prosecuting attorney Holman asked to reschedule the hearing because of on going discussions with the defense.

The next pretrial hearing is scheduled for December 20th 2022.


Permission granted to reproduce, in whole or part, with attribution. Redaction of names (while retaining title) is recognized as reasonable editorial license and the statement may still be quoted.

Uncategorized

Office of Inspector General Finds BOPC in Violation of Detroit Charter

NEWS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Scotty Boman, Founder
Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight
Phone: (313) 247-2052 [Voice Only]
Texting Phone: (313) 338-9769 [Text Only]
ScottyEducation@yahoo.com
Draco.Life

May 23rd, 2022

Office of Inspector General Finds BOPC in Violation of Detroit Charter

Detroit, MI – On Friday May 20th 2022 Detroit Inspector General Ellen Ha Replied to a complaint (attached) submitted by Scotty Boman, founder of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO). The attached response letter expresses agreement that the Board of Police Commissioners violated the charter in hiring the interim Secretary and Chief Investigators to serve for 2 additional years.

In the response, the Inspector general states:

Thank you for submitting your complaint to the Detroit Office of Inspector General (OIG). You alleged that the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) abused their authority by voting certain individuals in long-term interim positions in violation of the City of Detroit Charter. More specifically, you state that on January 13, 2022, the BOPC voted to appoint Melanie White as Interim Board Secretary and Lawrence Akbar as Interim Chief Investigator for a two-year term. However, both employees previously worked for the BOPC within the last 3 years which would make them ineligible for these positions based on the Charter.
The OIG investigation found that BOPC was made fully aware of the Charter violation and has been provided an opportunity to correct the violation by properly filling these positions in accordance with the Charter. Therefore, the OIG is closing our investigation at this time with no further action.

Boman commented, It is inexcusable for the Board of Police Commissioners to ignore their formative document. Without the Charter they aren’t police commissioners, and they have no oversight authority.” He went on to comment, “How can an organization claim the moral authority to hold law enforcement officers accountable, when they brazenly ignore the laws that apply to them?”

– End –

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

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

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

Uncategorized

Detroit City Council May Back Dewayne Jones

Council member contact information is available by linking to this page, scrolling down. and selecting the picture of a member.

The Detroit City Council is about to vote on whether or not to give Corporal Dewayne Jones Taxpayer Funds to Defend himself from a lawsuit by the Victim’s guardian. This is not an endorsement of her guardian (Mary Rowan), but we at DRACO think the City is already giving way to much to  this violent criminal.

The language to be voted on is a bit esoteric: “7. Status of Law Department submitting reso. autho. Legal Representation and Indemnification in lawsuit of Mary Rowan v City of Detroit, et al.; Civil Action Case No.: 18-014931 YES for Corporal Dewayne Jones. (BROUGHT BACK AS DIRECTED ON 11-20-19)”

Here are links to related documents:

https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2020-01/cal%2001-08-20%20IOS.doc

https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/26641651/Smith_v_Jones_et_al

https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2020-01/cal%2001-14-20%20Closed%20Sessions.docx

https://dockets.justia.com/docket/michigan/miedce/2:2019cv10103/335475