The arrest of John Daniel “LJ” Scott Jr., a 39-year-old from Decatur, Alabama has sparked intense outrage after a disturbing leaked video Hollywood Unlocked obtained, shows the troubling treatment he received while in police custody, ultimately leading to his death.
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Last month, John’s mother made a call to the police, reporting that her son had refused to return her cellphone. By the time officers arrived, she had already communicated that the situation was resolved. However, she then informed them that John was experiencing a mental health crisis, prompting the police to return due to escalating concerns about his behavior.
According to police statements, John was given the choice to go to the hospital for evaluation or to be taken into custody for an active warrant. The officers claim that he declined both options and did not comply with their commands. They assert that this refusal turned the situation combative, requiring them to use a Taser and physical force to subdue him. Instead of receiving the medical help he needed, John was taken to the Morgan County Jail.
The Decatur Police’s Statement Before John’s Death
In their public statement, officers initially claimed they were trying to help and stated, “Officers strongly encouraged him to voluntarily board the ambulance for a mental health evaluation and medical care. Despite repeated efforts, he refused.” They continued saying that, due to John’s non-compliance, they had to place him under arrest.
The incident, which occurred on April 15, 2025, drew considerable attention, but the release of a shocking security footage has intensified the public’s outrage. The upsetting footage reveals officers dragging John’s limp, unresponsive body, treating him not as a person in need of help, but as mere cargo.
This visual evidence contradicts the police narrative and shows failure in their duty to protect individuals vulnerable during mental health crises.
The family of John Scott Jr. has been vocal in their demand for justice. The Law Office of S. Lee Merritt released a powerful statement, emphasizing,
“The newly leaked video confirms what the family of John Scott Jr. has known all along: LJ was not resisting arrest—he was unresponsive, likely unconscious, and in need of immediate medical attention.
Instead, officers dragged his lifeless body by the feet into a jail cell and left him there without care. The Decatur Police Department’s official statement was not just misleading—it was a deliberate attempt to cover up the truth.
This is not just a failure of policy, it is a violation of LJ’s constitutional and human rights. We demand full accountability for every official involved in this cover-up and every officer who failed to treat LJ as a human being in need.”
John’s family buried him on Wednesday, April 30, at Jackson Memory Funeral Home in Town Creek.
They are not only seeking justice but is also pursuing an independent autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death. Meanwhile, the community is demanding change to ensure that no one else has to undergo such dehumanizing treatment in their time of need.
