DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — Emotional outbursts on Monday at the Decatur city council regular work session ended with one person arrested following a brief scuffle with police.
During the public comments, Council President Jacob Ladner abruptly ended the meeting after some people began shouting at council members for not holding the officers responsible regarding the death of John Scott Jr.
Scott died at Huntsville Hospital one week ago after a call regarding his mental health led to him refusing officers’ suggestions to go to the hospital and ended with a violent arrest.
This is the first public meeting since the death of Scott.
A protest began inside City Hall before demonstrators peacefully exited the building.
“If someone does something wrong you have to hold them accountable and I don’t think that Decatur, the police department or the government officials are not holding anyone accountable so these things will continue to happen and they will continue to happen until someone stands up as a leader,” said Terrance Adkins, co-founder of the social justice group Standing In Power.
“I am tired and I am frustrated,” said Sharonda Acklin of Standing In Power. “If the council would listen to us then we could have prevented another death on Decatur police hands.”
Ladner said that human resources is in the final stages of hiring a new police chief.
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