On Sunday, December 10, 2017 at approximately 7:46 p.m., police responded to a traffic accident with injuries on I-10 Westbound at Dauphin Island Parkway. Upon arrival, officers observed a vehicle that had collided with the concrete barricade on I-10. A section of the concrete barricade was destroyed. The vehicle was turned upside down.
As Officer Matthew Towey and Officer Daniel Marlin approached the vehicle, they heard a female screaming “Help, he’s trying to kill me, he’s trying to kill me.” Officers observed that the female was the passenger.
Officers observed the driver, identified as 26-year-old Ira Crawford, stabbing at the female passenger, Jaicola Seales.
Officers observed that Crawford was holding an edged weapon in his hand. Immediately, officers gave multiple commands for Crawford to place the weapon down, but he failed to comply and continued to make efforts to harm Seales.
Because Seales could not escape, officers were forced to deploy deadly force measures to neutralize Crawford as a threat. As a result, Crawford was shot once by each officer, thereby causing his death.
Several witness statements are consistent in that they observed and heard Crawford threaten to kill Seales.
A knife and fork were recovered from the crime scene.
An administrative investigation and criminal investigation are being conducted. Officer Matthew Towey and Officer Daniel Marlin have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigations.
The District Attorney’s Office will be responsible for reviewing the facts of the criminal investigation and determining if there is sufficient evidence that would warrant criminal prosecution.
Seales was transported to the hospital and treated for her injuries. She has been released and is at home recovering.
The relationship of Seales to the decedent is that she was his girlfriend.
The Mobile Police Department does have body cam video of the officer-involved shooting. The body cam video will not be released during the investigations.
MOBILE POLICE DEPARTMENT