Attorney representing Jawan Dallas’ case weighs in on Kenyen Brown report
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The case surrounding Mobile man Jawan Dallas, who died after being tasted by two Mobile police officers, was one of many reviewed in U.S. Attorney Kenyen Brown’s report on MPD’s findings.
The attorney representing Dallas’ family said he believes that Brown’s report was accurate on Dallas, but Brown missed one crucial detail.
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Civil rights attorney Harry Daniels is one of three attorneys representing Jawan Dallas’ family in a civil lawsuit filed against the city of Mobile and the Mobile Police Department after Dallas was tased to death in July 2023 on Carol Plantation Road.
Brown’s report explained that Mobile police officers asked Dallas to show his identification. He refused, and the officers moved to detain him.
Daniels said Brown should have explained that in Alabama law, an officer cannot place you into custody for refusing to give your driver’s license.
“The arrest or detention is unlawful, then everything they steal from the arrest is not justified, is also unlawful,” Daniels explained. “So that ultimately led up to the death of Jawan Dallas.”
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Brown also stated in his report that the use of force was justified, but the entire situation didn’t have to happen.
Daniels expressed his disagreement since the police officers detained him because Dallas didn’t hand them any identification.
“Well, I disagree with that because they didn’t follow the law,” Daniels explained. “And, you know, I don’t know if Mr. Brown considered that factor. I’m not here to go back and forth. He has his analysis. I have mine. He’s a lawyer just like me, and I respect him, and hopefully, he felt the same way.
“But his analysis, in our opinion, they did not follow the law,” Daniels continued. “The law is very clear. In Alabama, you cannot require a driver’s license. I would ask him to revisit that section and revisit that law and revisit the 11th Circuit opinion.”
The officers involved were cleared of any wrongdoing.
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Daniels and Dallas’ family filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Mobile and the police department for his death.
That case has not begun trial, but when it does, it will be held in federal court.
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