On November 8, 2017, Lyndo Jones was in his car trying to fix a malfunctioning car alarm. A neighbor called the police to report a possible auto theft. When Mesquite, TX officers arrived, a scuffle ensued and Mr. Jones was shot twice by police officers. While in the hospital trying to recover from his serious injuries, Mesquite police denied access to Mr. Jones by his family and his attorney.
Fortunately, Mr. Jones is now home and recovering physically. In addition, Officer Derek Wiley, who shot Mr. Jones, has been relieved of duty by the Mesquite police department and has been indicted on felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a public servant. We commend the Mesquite police department’s speedy response to Wiley’s actions and the Dallas County Grand Jury's thoughtful consideration of the case leading to the indictment of Wiley. We will track this case with the expectation that Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson will vigorously prosecute Wiley to ensure justice is served. In addition, we recommend the Mesquite Police Chief Charles Cato police initiate de-escalation and implicit bias training for all Mesquite police officers to reduce future tragic incidents such as this one.
M.O.B.B. United for Social Change, Inc. is a nationwide coalition of moms who are dedicated to making the world a safer place for Black boys and men by eradicating harassment, brutality and unwarranted use of deadly force by law enforcement against our sons. The group was born out of frustration over the deaths of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile in Minnesota and numerous other innocent Black boys and men killed by police before and after them. It has grown into a mobilized force of moms determined to make a difference. We aim to influence both policy and perception that impact how Black boys and men are treated by law enforcement.