Cedar Rapids, officer, deny allegations in police shooting lawsuit

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids police officer Lucas Jones says he did not order his K-9 officer to 'kill” Jerime Mitchell during a traffic stop last November that ended with Jones shooting Mitchell, who now is paralyzed from the neck down.

Instead, Jones - in response to a lawsuit filed by Mitchell and his wife Bracken Mitchell - says he told the Dutch shepherd dog to 'stellen him,” a Dutch language command used in dog training that directs a canine to apprehend a suspect.

This is among the many denials by the city of Cedar Rapids and Jones to allegations made in the lawsuit, which was filed by the couple in February. None of the denials provide explanation, except for two brief statements by Jones. The city and Jones even deny some statements, due to 'lack of information,” such as Mitchell and his wife are married and Mitchell is older than age 18.

The Mitchells are suing the city and Jones for negligence, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and loss of consortium, and asking for damages. The suit claims Jones and the city were 'reckless, willful and wanton” in their actions.

The Incident

Authorities said Mitchell's pickup truck was pulled over by Jones in the early morning hours of Nov. 1 on Coe Road near the Coe College campus. An altercation ensued between the men. Mitchell tried to drive away but Jones became stuck in an open driver's side door of the truck. Jones then shot Mitchell, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.

Police recovered a pound of marijuana, scales and cash in a backpack inside Mitchell's truck, indicating Mitchell was on the verge of making a marijuana deal, Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden said.

Vander Sanden convened a grand jury following an investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. In both cases, it was determined Jones did not break the law by shooting Mitchell.

A police squad car dashboard camera captured the shooting on video, but Jones' body microphone was not functioning, so audio of most of what the men said was not recorded.

Lawsuit Allegations

According to a timeline presented in the lawsuit, Mitchell had finished working a late shift Nov. 1 and was going to check on his mother, who was recovering from a stroke. The lawsuit claims include:

' 'Jones had no legitimate, articulable reason for initiating the traffic stop.” Authorities have said Jones stopped Mitchell because a license plate light was out, but Mitchell says the light was working.

' Mitchell provided Jones with his license and registration as requested, but then Jones ordered Mitchell out of his truck and attempted to open the door.

' Jones put Mitchell in an arm bar, forced his hands behind his back and pushed him against the truck without telling him why he was being detained.

' Jones kneed Mitchell and swept him to the ground before releasing his police dog. Mitchell asserts Jones ordered the dog to 'kill him.” Mitchell then retreated to inside his truck. Jones added explanation about the Dutch language command.

' Once Mitchell was driving away from the scene with Jones still holding on, Jones told Mitchell, 'I'm going to kill you, man.”

' Jones 'opened fire” on Mitchell, firing multiple shots, one that struck Mitchell and ultimately paralyzed him.

The city and Jones, in their responses filed April 21 and April 19, respectively, denied all the allegations in the lawsuit.

A trial date has yet to be set.

In March, the Cedar Rapids City Council approved hiring the law firm Lynch Dallas PC, 526 Second Ave. SE, to represent Jones.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com