Two organizers with the “Justice for Tony Mitchell” movement spoke Tuesday to the Walker County Commission.
Ryan Cagle, of Parrish, an organizer of the protest in downtown Jasper on Feb. 19, said the purpose of the protest on Saturday as well as continued activism is to ensure “deaths like what happened to Tony Mitchell never happen again.”
“A wellness check should not end in a death sentence, regardless of what happens between the beginning and the end of that. Never. Never. There is no excuse for it,” Cagle said.
Cagle said Thursday he had nearly 3,000 signatures on a petition. On Tuesday that number was 2,494 signatures on 73 pages, which he gave copies to commissioners.
“You will get to know me and I hope to get to know you, because we will be here every time these doors open, with more and more names on this list in support of our aims and our demands,” Cagle said during the public comment time of the meeting.
Cagle said the county commission had little control over the first two demands in the petition. Those involved the resignation of Sheriff Nick Smith and other personnel matters as well as the release of all footage of Mitchell to his family.
“The second two, though, you do have some input on or sway in this county,” Cagle said. “The first long-term demand we have is the creation of the non-police operated emergency medical response team that will respond to all instances of medical distress and wellness checks, funded by the money Walker County has and is receiving on behalf of the national opioid epidemic.”
Cagle said he heard the funding might be close to $2 million. Commissioners did not comment how much that amount will be.
The other demand in the petition calls for the creation of an independent police oversight committee to hold the Walker County Sheriff’s Office accountable to the citizens.
Levi Dillon McIntyre of Curry also spoke on the issue, calling Mitchell one of his oldest friends.
“I’ve never had any run-ins with Walker County (law enforcement). I’m not a troublemaker, I would say, but I don’t want to sit by and watch this happen because I have children. We all have children here. God forbid they make one wrong move and wind up in that situation.”
McIntyre said citizens just want justice in what they consider to be a heinous and wrongful death.
Commissioners do not make comments during the public comment section of the meeting, but Chairman Steve Miller did thank the two gentlemen for speaking as is usual.
Cagle said a candle light vigil has been scheduled for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Walker County Jail.
