A man being arrested by Atlantic City police Friday night was
revived after his heart stopped at the scene. But what caused the condition has
raised claims of police brutality by the suspect’s mother.
Ronnett Jones says cellphone video she provided to The Press of
Atlantic City shows officers punching her 23-year-old son, Joel Jones, while he
is handcuffed, then slamming his head against a wall.
However, police say the incident was drug-related. When Jones
began to go limp as he was being arrested, the officers immediately tried to
administer aid, including calling for a rush on an ambulance, according to the
report.
“I don’t give a damn about drugs,” Ronnett Jones said Monday during
a phone interview from AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center’s City Campus, where
her son is being treated. “That’s no reason to do what they did to my son. They
killed him. He was dead.”
According to the police report, officers observed a drug transaction
at Brown’s Park, then tried to arrest Jones, who ran. He was apprehended at the
nearby Schoolhouse Apartments, where he was cuffed and then put against the
wall.
Video shows Jones against the wall, and then officers pushing him.
Ronnett Jones said that is when her son’s head was slammed into
the wall, causing him to seizure. The report, however, says the suspect
struggled with police, then was put up against the wall, where he suddenly went
limp.
“Both officers said in both reports that they helped him to the
ground and put him to his side,” said Sgt. Monica McMenamin, the department’s
public information officer.
At that point, medical personnel was called on an “expedite,” to
rush to the scene.
In addition to the drug offenses, Jones is charged with resisting
arrest, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence. No details were
given on the tampering charge.
Chief Ernest Jubilee indicated police could not confirm reports
that Jones allegedly swallowed a baggie with drugs in it, which caused him to
choke.
Ronnett Jones said police at the hospital tried telling her “it
may have been drugs,” but that she yelled at them that her son’s head was
slammed against the wall, and said she had video.
Jones said she has been restricted from seeing her son at times.
McMenamin said that as a courtesy, visitation was allowed due to Joel Jones'
condition, but now that he has improved to stable condition, restrictions will
be reinstated, as with any prisoner. He will be taken to the Atlantic County
jail when he is well enough, and his bail will be set at $50,000.
Security at the hospital said a sergeant had allowed a limited
visit by only Jones’ parents.
Ronnett Jones said that just last month the same police — who were
not named — stood by her other son’s bedside urging him to pull through after
he was shot at Carver Hall about 8:15 p.m April 21.
Rasheed Royster, 22, remains hospitalized just a floor away from
his brother.
“What hurts is these same police came to Rasheed and said, ‘We’re
going to get the guys who did this to you,’” Ronnett Jones said.
Jones said she has contacted a lawyer and plans to file a
complaint against the officers.
Last week, City Council took a first step to create a civilian
review board that would address claims of police harassment and excessive
force. The city has said the plan is to make sure officers who are problems
will be handled while protecting officers from “petty and vengeful” complaints