The Greenwood Police Department has released a former officer’s body camera video from an April arrest of a Greenwood man that is now the subject of a federal lawsuit against the city.
The video recorded the April 7 arrest of Jelani Barr, who was charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with police business. However, the body camera, which was worn by then-Lt. Randy Powell, shows that at all times Barr remained calm and cooperative with officers. The video was also consistent with Barr’s own video of the incident.
Barr declined to comment Friday on release of the police video.
Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAdams said Saturday that she had seen the police video.
“I had already seen his (Barr’s) personal cellphone video, and it just confirms what was on there,” she said.
The arrest of Barr, 30, led to the firing of Powell and, according to Police Chief Ray Moore, administrative discipline of Sgt. Michael Hoskins.
Moore said an internal investigation that showed that Powell violated numerous departmental policies in Barr's arrest
The Taxpayers Channel obtained the video Friday as the result of a public records request.
Barr was recording an unrelated traffic stop near the intersection of Bowie Lane and Carrollton Avenue when he was arrested.
The Police Department’s initial accounts of the incident, including an affidavit signed by Powell, alleged that Barr failed to comply with repeated instructions to leave the area. A second report, filed by Hoskins, contained many of the same allegations in Powell’s report.
The officers’ accounts were called into question after Barr posted his video on YouTube.
The police body camera footage documents Powell repeatedly telling Hoskins to take Barr “straight to the back road,” a reference to the Leflore County Jail.
Shortly after the arrest, political activist John Pittman Hey brought the ordinance used to arrest Barr to the attention of the City Council. The 1963 law prohibited citizens from ridiculing police in the course of their duties. The council quickly repealed the law, which was used to target civil rights demonstrators.
The charges against Barr were dismissed Aug. 3.
Barr filed a federal lawsuit Aug. 28 against the city, as well as Powell and Hoskins, accusing them of illegally arresting him.
Barr is seeking a jury trial and unspecified compensatory damages for “physical and emotional pain and suffering” caused by his arrest and restitution for the legal fees he incurred thereafter.
Barr ran for lieutenant governor but lost in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com. Contact Nick Rogers at 581-7235 or nrogers@gwcommonwealth.com.
