Frustrations expressed over grand jury ruling

CEDAR RAPIDS - In the wake of a grand jury decision not to indict a Cedar Rapids police officer who shot a motorist during a Nov. 1 traffic stop, members of the community gathered Tuesday night to ask questions, express frustrations and figure out how to move forward.

Approximately 50 people attended the meeting, organized by the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP and its Cedar Rapids chapter, at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 6621 C Ave. NE.

'I know there are some people who are hurting, both physically and emotionally and I want to be here and do whatever I can to help those wounds heal,” said Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman, who attended the meeting along with other members of his department.

Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker, who called last week for a special prosecutor to present the case to the grand jury, and Cedar Rapids City Council member Susie Weinact also attended the meeting.

Jerman said Officer Lucas Jones remains on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation, which is in its early stages. The grand jury on Tuesday ruled Jones, who is white, was justified in shooting Jerime 'Danky” Mitchell, 38, who is black, during a traffic stop on Nov. 1 that escalated into a physical altercation between the two men. It is the second time Jones' actions in an officer-involved shooting have been ruled justified.

Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden made that ruling following an incident on Oct. 20, 2015, during which police fatally shot 21-year-old Jonathan T. Gossman. Authorities said police stopped the vehicle Gossman was in as part of a narcotics investigation. He ran from police and pointed a gun at them and the officers - including Jones - returned fire, killing him.

Rebecca Grant, a community member who attended the event, expressed her fear that Jones may soon be back on patrol.

'I have two sons,” Grant said. 'I don't want to see Officer Jones back on the street because I'd be worried for my sons and for other people.”

Responding to a question whether he has the authority to fire Jones, Jerman said he does not and that Jones is 'entitled to due process just like any other American.”

Tuesday's meeting was facilitated by Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP, with help from Dedric Doolin, president of the Cedar Rapids branch of the NAACP. Andrews said she respects the process put in place to determine whether Mitchell's shooting was justified, but at the same time questioned the integrity of that process.

Many in attendance expressed frustration that Mitchell did not have the opportunity to give a statement to the grand jury before it ruled, although Vander Sanden, in announcing the grand jury's findings on Tuesday afternoon, said efforts were made to get a statement from Mitchell.

'I will point out, after Mr. Mitchell was shot, he did not have the ability to speak,” said Paula Roby, Mitchell's attorney. 'Therefore, it was very difficult for us to provide any statement. As soon as he was able, we made an appointment. We did not know that appointment would be for naught.”

Roby said she has received the police dash camera footage of the traffic stop and shooting and has reviewed it on behalf of her clients, Mitchell and his wife Bracken. She also said she still plans to get a statement from Mitchell about what happened the night of Nov. 1. She said she has scheduled that for next week with investigators from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

'That statement will be taken,” Roby said. '(Mitchell's) story will be told.”

Similar frustrations were expressed at a protest held earlier Tuesday evening outside the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

About 10 individuals, including members of Mitchell's family, gathered there holding signs that read 'he was unarmed” and 'justice for Danky.”

Shalyse Johnson, 28, Mitchell's niece, called the grand jury proceedings 'one-sided” and expressed her frustration that her uncle never gave a statement.

'It was very frustrating, because we would have been more than willing to speak with them because we want an open line of communication,” Johnson said.

Walker said one of the goals of community conversations is moving forward.

Much of the meeting's narrative led in that direction. Many agreed it was necessary for leaders and community members to further discuss possible changes in police department policy and training methods.

Walker said it's also important to hold 'public officials, whether elected or appointed, accountable for the decisions being made.”

Andrews and other community leaders said they intend to keep the discussion going and possibly partner with other local organizations to ensure that happens.