GREENSBORO, N.C. — A hearing is set for March 18 on whether the Greensboro City Manager's attorney can be involved in matters regarding the release of bodycam footage. The footage has not been released to the public, but it could be. It involves an incident at Greensboro City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba's home. Officers were called there for some sort of family dispute on December 28. Now, the City of Greensboro has appealed a judge's decision to release the bodycam footage to the public.
Timeline:
- In February, a judge allowed for the Greensboro City Council to view bodycam footage of the incident at Jaiyeoba's home. The city council described it as a private, family matter.
- Then, another judge ruled that parts of the bodycam footage could be released to the public by March 4.
- A motion was then filed by Jaiyeoba's attorney to intervene in the matters, meaning they want to be involved and heard on anything involving the bodycam footage debate. Up to this point, the city manager has not been involved in the matter.
- On Monday, March 4, the City of Greensboro appealed the judge's decision to release the footage. GPD Chief John Thompson said he believes releasing the footage would set a bad precedent that would discourage citizens from calling 911 in similar domestic situations. Mayor Nancy Vaughan agreed.
- On Tuesday, March 5, an attorney for the Greensboro News and Record opposed the motion to intervene, arguing that a judge had already ruled the footage could be released.
- Now, a hearing is set for March 18 -- and this will determine whether Jaiyeoba's attorney can be involved in these matters going forward. This hearing will not decide anything regarding the release of the bodycam footage.
As far as the appeal for the bodycam footage, it could take several months until a three-judge panel decides to uphold its release or side with the city to withhold it.
Here's what we know about the incident at Jaiyeoba's home:
- Officers were called to the city manager's home on December 28 for a family dispute.
- Chief Thompson said upon arrival, officers and paramedics observed that Jaiyeoba's daughters did not have injuries.
- Chief Thompson said Jaiyeoba was the only person on scene with an injury, but it was not confirmed whether that injury was a result of the incident.
- GPD said based on those observations, there was no probable cause to arrest the city manager.
- The District Attorney's office also said criminal charges were not warranted. No charges were filed as a result of Jaiyeoba's injury either.
Chief Thompson said he worries that releasing the video would discourage other citizens from calling 911 in similar situations. He said while he understands the city manager is a public figure, other family members involved in the incident are not.
Chief Thompson explained the nature of sensitivity in this footage saying, "It’s the statements that were made by family members. Some around medical, some around mental health incidents that may have occurred previously between other family members. It really is just the investigative process when officers show up, and they start asking questions, and they start getting details. Other information is talked about not related to the specific incident, and then really just the video of them. I think the mayor has said, this is a family in some type of crisis. They are emotional, the feelings are coming out, so it is sensitive. We believe that any citizen would be hesitant to want that information blasted out for everybody to see.”
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan agreed.
"Calling 911 should not equate to relinquishing one’s rights to privacy,” said Vaughan.
We'll keep you informed as this story continues.
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