Officer: Jonathan Grimes - Misrepresenting Gulfport Police (2008)

Sorry for the shuddering, I was shaken up by him pointing his weapon at me and threatening to kill me before I got my camera out.

Notice: All of the following statements can be found in the squad car's video to be true.

December 18th 2010, 2010 - 3:30pm
Gulfport Police Department

Jonathan D Grimes
11146 Woodley Dr | Gulfport, MS 39503 - (662) 299-3530
This man lives next door to my house, which is how I know his information.

Jonathan Grimes refused to take my statement the first time we approached each other.
I then went to my car to clip on my 2-inch video camera on my shirt for my own security and record. I then attempted to explain the situation with Jonathan Grimes, which then he refused a 2nd time now that I let him know I was recording the event.

The reason I was studdering during the conversation was because I was shaken, and did not expect him at all to act the way he did and go completely off-topic to something as irrelevant as a camcorder. I didn't know what to say or how to react to his unprofessionalism.

You can clearly see and hear that I am nervous and trying my best to explain the situation calmly to Jonathan Grimes. Apparently, he doesn't like being video taped (even though I told him "it is legal, and a public area"). So he decided to arrest me for a bogus charge out of his fear of being recorded.

I am no lawyer, but I believe this man violated my rights in some way, whether it be my 4th amendment or something.. It is not right. Turning it off and arresting me for a petty charge bending the legal system into his favor for his fear of being recorded (I was parked in the grass because he told me to, and you can see that I am). In the end of the video, you can hear me start to say, "Don't turn that off!"

In his own squad car video, I am seen trying to explain the situation a 3rd time calmly, where then in the privacy of his car, he repeatedly insults me after saying, "If you like cameras so much, here, look at that one!" (Referring to the camera in his squad car)

He lets me out of his squad car after showing me who is boss. Grimes then says to my face, "You know that I could have shot you.." Attempting to dominate my mind by, implying he had the option of taking my life which my parents and I worked so hard for. I'm 20, so that would be 60 years of work down the drain.

In my opinion, this man is not mature enough to be a Police Officer. He has misrepresented the Gulfport Police Department. To be a policeman, you must have the ability to handle stressful situations without reacting destructively towards the citizens you promised to protect and SERVE.

Please contact the Gulfport Police Chief's Office, Alan Weatherford, it is very important that the Chief is aware of his officer's behavior.

Phone number: 228-868-5900

If you do your job right, you shouldn't have any fear of your citizens having video cameras. It will probably help you more than it will hurt you.

2011 UPDATE: I was found NOT GUILTY for my charge for disrupting traffic.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• 14th
• amendment
• right
• violation
• police
• grimes
• crooked
• cops
• gulfport
• jonathan

[macoflaf]

So what's the outcome of this illegal arrest? Did you have your day in court and win??? Did the DOJ investigate this brutal act of civil rights violation and if so, what was the outcome of their investigation?

[CayleRose]

@macoflaf Officer Grimes had to resign from his job working with the Gulfport Police Department, I was found innocent.

[macoflaf]

@CayleRose Why wasnt the DOJ involved? In most CR cases, they are brought in or at the very least the state police? I am a staunch advocate of police and back them whenever I can. I stand by my convictions that MOST police are trying to do a good job but do have momentary lapses of reasoning. This, in my opinion, is called being human. Now having said that, if this was a reoccurring situation with the officer, he should have been brought up on charges and the department investigated.

[CayleRose]

@macoflaf Well, being that you wish to go into further detail...

He lives next door to me, has been harassing my neighbor's son (following him in his patrol car). Then almost ran over an elderly man down the street driving recklessly because, "Sorry, I just really wanted to get home early". So it is hes been misrepresenting the Gulfport Police Department for some time now.. Glad he is no longer with them.

No DOJ was involved. My family is close with the police department. Taken care of.

[CayleRose]

Please read video description.

[macoflaf]

@CayleRose Then that shows the pattern of an irresponsible and immature officer. Sometimes this happens and good officers are often in the shadows while the bad ones get the light that the department wishes they didnt have. I would have still encouraged a call to the department of Justice to investigate. Usually in a situation like that, not unlike criminals, what they get caught doing is only a fraction of the crimes.