Local media outlets in Palm Beach, Florida have obtained a disturbing video which shows a police officer shooting an unarmed black man. The incident occurred in 2013, and the video was just released as part of a lawsuit facing the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. The dashcam video shows Dontrell Stephens riding his bike, talking on his cell phone, as an officer begins following him. As the officer pulls over, Stephens is seen getting off his bike and walking briefly out of frame. Seconds later, he is shot multiple times. Stephens was paralyzed from the waist down in the shooting.
Florida’s WPTV reports that a conversation between the deputy who shot him and another officer was also recorded. The officer who opened fire says, “He starts backing away. I said, ‘Get on the ground, get on the ground,” to which the other officer replies, “I got your back man. I got your back. Hey, you hear me?” An attorney for Stephens told the TV station, “There are no records of any commands ever made to Dontrell Stephens. The deputy’s recorded statements following the shooting were absolutely false. Internal affairs completely ignored that evidence.” No commands can be heard in the video. The officer was cleared to go back on duty just days later. At the time, police said Stephens, who had previous drug arrests, had marijuana on him …