Orlando police have released body-worn camera footage from a March 27 traffic stop that ended with 55-year-old Ocoee resident Terry Mitchell in the hospital and, according to his family, in a coma. Mitchell's relatives have hired civil-rights attorney Ben Crump and gathered at a church in Eatonville to demand clarity about what took place during and after the arrest. The family says doctors told them Mitchell suffered a traumatic brain injury while in police custody, while police say they recovered drugs from his car and have opened an internal review. Those sharply different accounts have fueled growing calls from community leaders for a thorough public explanation.
Police release footage, open internal probe
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Orlando Police Department released the bodycam recordings on April 23 and announced an internal investigation into the incident. The Sentinel reports that officers pulled Mitchell over near Washington Street and Dollins Avenue for an alleged seatbelt violation on March 27. In the footage, officers can be heard telling each other to "get a doctor" and asking, "is he breathing?" The outlet also reports that Mitchell was transported to AdventHealth Millenia, where hospital staff documented him as unresponsive later that night.
Family hires Ben Crump, holds press conference
In a statement from Ben Crump Law, Crump and Mitchell's relatives said they are demanding the full release of all body-worn and dash-camera recordings and an independent review of the case. "What happened to Terry Mitchell?" Crump asked during the gathering in Eatonville, according to his office. The release identifies Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Eatonville as the site of Thursday's news conference and states that Mitchell remains on life support.
Arrest affidavit alleges drugs and possible swallowing
The Orlando Sentinel also reports that an arrest affidavit says officers located cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana inside Mitchell's car. The document states that officers suspected Mitchell swallowed narcotics after they saw him chewing on a piece of plastic and refusing to spit it out. It further notes that an unknown white substance in and around his mouth later tested presumptive positive for cocaine, and that court records show his initial hearing appearance was waived for medical reasons. Police officials have not publicly explained how those allegations line up with the family's description of his injuries.
OPD history and community reaction
A 2021 review commissioned by the City of Orlando identified persistent community concerns about use of force within the department and urged stronger civilian oversight, a backdrop local advocates say is impossible to ignore in Mitchell's case. Faith leaders and residents who gathered in Eatonville echoed demands for an outside investigation and more detailed answers from city officials, according to live coverage by FOX 35 Orlando.
What comes next
Orlando police say their internal inquiry is ongoing, while attorneys for the Mitchell family say they will continue to press for accountability and full transparency if the department's findings leave key questions unresolved, per Ben Crump Law. With Mitchell still hospitalized and his first court appearance already waived because of his medical condition, the case is expected to remain under close watch from civil-rights organizations and state authorities as more video and documents are released.
