DRACO – Page 2 – Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight

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 16^th , 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 16^th, 2020). The protest will include statements during the “Oral Communication” portion of the meeting. Dewayne Jones was convicted of assault on March 19^th 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 9^th 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 16^th 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

January 21, 2020January 21, 2020 boman4detroit

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

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

Community Activists Sound Off On New Developments in the Police Brutality Case of Dewayne Jones

January 9, 2020 boman4detroit

NEWS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

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

Draco.Life

Other contact info may be available on request.

Time: 6:00 PM on Thursday January 9^th 2020
Place: ACC Youth Center. 62 W Seven Mile Rd, Detroit, MI 48203

Community Activists Sound Off On New Developments in the Police Brutality Case of Dewayne Jones

Detroit, MI – Representatives of a variety of community organizations will be holding a news conference ahead of the Board of Police Commissioners meeting Thursday night. Activists include Scotty Boman, founder of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO), Lory Parks of the Michigan National Action Network (NAN), and Marilyn Jordan of Detroit People’s Task Force. Eric Blount will be commenting on his impressions of a body cam video that surfaced in August, which very few people have seen.

Activists will be asking the BOPC to open an investigation to find out how and why body cam video from the defendant’s partner remained secret until after the trial. “I want to know who was supposed to gather video evidence, and how he, she or they failed to disclose it.” Said Boman.

The Wayne County Circuit Court granted Corporal Dewayne Jone’s an appeal on November 1^st, so the case has been sent back to the 36^th District Court. The assigned appellate Judge was Cynthia Gray Hathaway, but Michael Hathaway filled in for her, in her absence.

Hathaway’s order called for the 36^th District Court to hold a “Ginther Hearing” within 35 days. The 36^th District Court has not received anything regarding this appeal and has not scheduled any new hearings. The only future hearing scheduled by them is a May 1^st probation review.

DRACO founder Scotty Boman commented, “I don’t know, because I don’t have money to buy transcripts, but I have a feeling that mysterious video that inexplicably surfaced with the DPD in late August counted as “new evidence” which is a standard ground for appeal.” Boman said he left messages for prosecuting attorney David McCreedy for clarification, but did not hear back from him.

The beating victim, Sheldy Smith, was moved to an unknown mental health facility (without notifying family members). Reputed guardianship abuser Mary Rowen has been given control over Sheldy by the courts and has actively been denying family members access to her. Rowen also had custody at the time of the beating.

Keeping the victim hidden and silent works in the favor of Jones, and perhaps that works in favor of Rowan too.

“I see one common purpose behind all of this: The delayed discovery of the video, the delayed appeal process, the drawn out internal investigation, and the Shell game with Sheldy” said Boman, “…to guarantee a comfortable retirement for Corporal Dewayne Berran Jones. Once he retires they will just drop everything and call the case moot. Jones won’t be held accountable.”

-End –

News Conference On The Eve of Jones Trial in 2018

DRACO, Event, Events, Oversight, Police Brutality, Police Commission, Police Community Relations

Civilian Oversight Activists Demand Consequences for Dewayne Jones

April 30, 2019 boman4detroit

NEWS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

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

Draco.Life

April 30^th, 2019

Civilian Oversight Activists Demand Consequences for Dewayne Jones

Detroit, MI – Members of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO) are unhappy with how an unarmed woman (referred to in court by the pseudonym “Shelby Smith”)**, was treated by Corporal Dewayne Jones at Detroit Receiving hospital, and have announced a news conference to talk about it on the eve of his sentencing hearing. He was convicted of misdemeanor assault on March 20^th. They will be joined by other activists who believe he must serve time for his violent crime. They are also disturbed by the fact that he remains a police officer in spite of the conviction.

Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (D.R.A.C.O.) founder Scotty Boman will hold a news conference across from the Detroit 36^th District Court at 2:00 PM on Tuesday April 30^th. The Court is located at 421 Madison St, Detroit, MI 48226. He will be joined by other activists who believe that Dewayne Jones used excessive force last summer, and that he must face substantial consequences for his crime.

“Last Thursday Chief Craig told me that Jones still has his job. How is it that the DPD keeps a violent criminal in this position while firing people for non-criminal misconduct? Members of the community don’t have much faith in the justice system and expect Jones to get off easy. Misdemeanors have low maximum sentences, but he must see the inside of a cell to ensure that he and the community know that there is no preferential treatment for police and that violence will not be tolerated.”

In August 2018 a cell phone video surfaced that captured Detroit Police Corporal Dwayne Jones repeatedly punching a naked, unarmed woman as other officers restrained her (and one tried to pull him off her). Shortly after this Police Chief Craig suspended Jones with pay. On December 3^rd 2018 the Wayne County prosecutor’s office arraigned Jones on felony misconduct and misdemeanor assault and battery charges.

On January 15^th Thirty Sixth District Court Judge Cylenthia Miller dismissed the felony misconduct in office charge against Detroit Police Corporal Dewayne Jones in connection with the beating. He was found guilty of assault on March 20^th and the court scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 1^st.

A sentencing for Jones is scheduled for 9:00 AM on Wednesday May 1^st in the courtroom (Rm. 339) of Kenneth J. King. (case #1806106901).

Activists will also be available for comment on Wednesday at 8:30 AM at the same location.

* Scotty Boman founded DRACO to educate the public on the roll of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners.

** Previous releases by DRACO referred to the victim by her true name, but since the court is using a different name we are assuming this is at her request and are respecting her wishes.

-END-