DOTHAN, Ala. — A Houston County judge has denied a request to release police bodycam footage related to an arrest involving a Dothan woman who claims she was struck multiple times by a police officer. The incident, which occurred on December 15 outside the Dothan Elks Club, has sparked controversy as the woman, April Franklin, faces charges of resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a police officer.
According to police, officers were responding to a fight inside the Elks Club and attempted to make an arrest outside. Franklin, who was nearby, allegedly approached the officers despite repeated requests to step back, leading to her arrest. An eyewitness video showed a female officer striking Franklin multiple times in the head during the altercation.
Franklin and her attorney, Dustin Fowler, filed a motion requesting the release of the officer’s bodycam footage, the officer’s personnel file, and any other relevant documents related to the incident. Fowler argued that this information was critical for Franklin’s defense, given the serious nature of the charges against her.
“This is a serious offense, a serious charge for which she is not guilty. The requested information that we sought is completely relevant to this criminal matter,” Fowler said.
However, prosecutors opposed the request, citing that the case was still under investigation by the police department’s internal affairs unit. They also argued that the motion was not related to Franklin’s criminal case but rather in preparation for a potential lawsuit against the Dothan Police Department.
After reviewing the request and hearing from both parties, Judge Lewis ruled to deny the release of the video and related documents. The judge agreed with the prosecution’s stance that all discovery materials would be made available only after a potential indictment.
Following the ruling, Fowler filed a new motion, requesting that the custodian of records for Houston County testify about the withheld documents during a preliminary hearing. He contends that Alabama case law allows for such testimony at this stage of the legal process.
“We feel that case law is confident that we can call this witness. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has said that we can call these witnesses at a preliminary hearing,” Fowler explained.
As of now, Judge Lewis has not issued a ruling on the latest motion.
In response to the incident, the Dothan Police Department has stated that their internal affairs department is conducting a thorough investigation. While the department typically does not release bodycam footage during investigations, they emphasized their commitment to transparency and accountability.
The case continues to develop, and questions remain regarding the actions of the officers involved and the use of force during Franklin’s arrest.
