VIDEO: APD body, dash camera footage released following in-custody death
The Austin Police Department released officer body-camera video and video from a dash camera after a man died in police custody in June.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department released officer body-camera video and video from a dash camera Tuesday after a man died in police custody in June. The videos and 911 calls released by APD showed the man's alleged involvement in a south Austin crash and his subsequent detainment by APD.
According to APD, on June 17, officers responded to multiple calls regarding a man who was “acting erratic” and “throwing things” inside a store in south Austin.
Editor's note: The video above is dash camera footage provided by a private citizen to the Austin Police Department
Police identified the man as 35-year-old Jermaine Sims.
Police said Sims stole a vehicle from a gas pump, turned onto an Interstate 35 frontage road heading in the wrong direction and hit multiple vehicles.
APD officers arrived at the scene and took Sims into custody. Austin-Travis County EMS medics then took him to a hospital where he later died.
APD said because the man died in police custody, the department was investigating the incident as an in-custody death.
On Tuesday, APD released police radio traffic audio that started around 4:02 p.m., five 911 audio calls starting around 4:02 p.m., body-worn camera from an officer and dash camera footage from a private citizen. That can all be listened to and viewed on APD's YouTube page here.
Officer Brandon Langer was the one wearing the body-worn camera released by police, a release from APD said Tuesday. Police also noted that around 4:09:43 p.m., Lewis' body-worn camera detached, fell on the ground and "did not provide clear video or audio content." The other officer seen in Langer's footage was Officer David Lewis, according to police.
According to police Tuesday, no charges were pending, but the case remained active.