Former Opelika Police Officer indicted by Lee County Grand Jury
A Lee County Grand Jury has indicted a former Opelika Police Officer on one count of misdemeanor third-degree assault.
The indictment stems from an incident in the early morning hours of 04/21/2022, where a subject attempted to flee from law enforcement and crashed into a light pole at the Jeter Avenue and Raintree Street intersection. After apprehending the subject, Officer Isaac Dominy arrived to assist other officers. The indictment alleges that Dominy struck the subject with a closed fist, causing a physical injury. “The incident was recorded, and those videos have been turned over to the Lee County District Attorney’s Office as evidence in its prosecution,” the press release stated. Dominy is no longer a city employee or officer in Opelika.
On that same day, April 21, 2022, Opelika Police Department Patrol Supervisors were made aware of a use of force incident involving one of their officers. “Following department procedure, an internal investigation began immediately to determine if the officer’s actions complied with administrative policies and procedures,” police said. At the conclusion of the internal investigation, the information was given to the Lee County District Attorney’s Office by the Opelika Police Department.
The District Attorney presented the case to a Grand Jury who indicted the former police officer on one count of misdemeanor third-degree assault. “An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence,” police said. “A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.” Isaac Dominy was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on September 9, 2022. The case is currently pending trial in the Lee County Circuit Court.
“Additionally, in compliance with a July 2021 amendment to the Alabama Administrative Code regarding the use of force reporting, all information was sent to the Alabama Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission (APOSTC), where they will conduct their own independent investigation,” police said.
Over the past two years, the Opelika Police Department has been focused on building and strengthening relationships within the community. In the final part of the statement, Opelika Police said this:
“Our goal is to be as transparent as possible regarding this incident while still respecting the court process. The City of Opelika is fortunate to have a strong Police Department under the leadership of Chief Healey. The Opelika Police Department is committed to upholding very high moral and professional standards. Chief Healey and the leadership of the Opelika Police Department take complaints of excessive force very seriously, and they thoroughly evaluate and investigate any incidents involving the use of force by City Police Officers. Furthermore, the Opelika Police Department will cooperate with entities that are part of the administrative review or criminal prosecution process. In the summer of 2020, Mayor Fuller and the Police Department were invited to join a coalition started by the 100 Black Men organization that brought together community leaders, clergy, non-profit organizations, and local law enforcement agencies. The alliance was built to solidify relationships and work together to ensure accountability measures are built into the public review of police practices. To that end, Chief Healey met with some of the coalition’s leaders, Rev. Clifford Jones, Councilman George Allen, and United States Marshall Jesse Seroyer, and apprised them of the details of this incident. Because the matter is now before the Lee County Circuit Court, and Chief Healey and his staff are potential witnesses in that action, no city employee is able to discuss this matter any further at this time.”
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