A tragic and intense incident unfolded on Sunday, December 10, that involved Officer Matthew (Matt) Towery of the Mobile Police Department. What began as a routine response to a traffic accident quickly turned into a life-threatening situation that forced officers to make a split-second decision.
The Initial Call
At around 7:46 a.m., police officers were dispatched to a traffic accident with reported injuries on Interstate 10 westbound at DIP. What appeared to be a standard emergency call rapidly escalated into a violent confrontation.
The Scene of the Incident
When Officer Matt Towery and Officer Daniel Marlin arrived at the scene, they discovered a chaotic situation inside one of the crashed vehicles. They heard screams for help coming from inside and quickly identified the source — a woman, later identified as Jaicola Seals, was trapped in the car and being attacked.
The Attack Inside the Vehicle
According to police reports, Seals was being stabbed repeatedly by a man identified as 26-year-old Ira Crawford. Officers immediately gave loud verbal commands for Crawford to drop his weapon, described as an edged weapon or knife-like object. Despite repeated warnings, Crawford continued the assault.
Use of Deadly Force
With Seals unable to escape the vehicle and Crawford continuing his attack, the situation left officers with no choice. In an attempt to protect the victim’s life, both Officer Matt Towery and Officer Daniel Marlin fired one shot each at Crawford. He was struck by both rounds and died at the scene.
Witness Accounts
Several witnesses at the scene reported that they heard Crawford threatening to kill Seals before officers arrived. Their statements supported the officers’ quick assessment that Seals was in immediate danger and that deadly force was necessary to save her life.
Aftermath and Investigations
Following the incident, both Officers Towery and Marlin were placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure after any officer-involved shooting. The Mobile Police Department (MPD) confirmed that two separate investigations are underway — one administrative and one criminal — to review every detail of the event.
Body Camera Evidence
MPD officials have confirmed that the entire incident was recorded on body-worn cameras. However, the footage will not be released while the investigations are ongoing. The department emphasized transparency but stated that releasing the video prematurely could compromise the inquiry.
Community and Department Response
The event has sparked strong reactions across the local community. While some residents have expressed concern about the violent nature of the event, many have acknowledged that the officers acted swiftly to save a victim’s life in a situation that was escalating by the second.
MPD leadership assured the public that all actions taken will be reviewed thoroughly, and the findings will be made available once both investigations are completed.
Summary
The Matt Towery accident was not a typical traffic incident — it was a tragic event that combined a violent domestic assault with a dangerous on-scene confrontation. Officer Matt Towery and Daniel Marlin were forced to make an immediate, life-saving decision under extreme pressure.
While the death of Ira Crawford remains under investigation, the evidence and witness accounts so far indicate that officers acted to prevent a murder in progress, ultimately saving Jaicola Seals’ life.
