Kentucky man dies in police custody, family seeks answers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The demise of a Kentucky man whereas in police custody has prompted a state police investigation, and relations are questioning why officers apparently did not give him medical consideration on the scene.

Clarence Wilkerson died whereas in police custody on March 2 after he was detained by Ashland cops, Kentucky State Police stated. Police had been serving a warrant to Wilkerson, who’s Black. Police haven’t but stated what the warrant was for.

An post-mortem by the state medical expert stated Wilkerson’s demise was “probably associated to preexisting medical illnesses” and never a “traumatic occasion,” in response to a launch from state police. Relations stated Wilkerson, 34, had a coronary heart situation.

Civil rights legal professional Ben Crump, who Wilkerson’s household has employed, requested for the police division to launch footage associated to the incident.

The requested investigation doesn’t essentially imply the demise occurred below suspicious circumstances, as Kentucky police departments typically request state police investigations into related instances, together with officer-involved shootings.

The Ashland Police Division is referring all requests for extra data to the Kentucky State Police. A message was left with state police searching for extra data.

Whereas police haven’t but launched footage, a video shot by a bystander and posted to YouTube earlier this week apparently exhibits who Crump stated is Wilkerson handcuffed behind his again and sitting on the bottom with 4 Ashland cops round him. One of many officers stated he informed the person on the bottom he had a warrant for his arrest and the person ran away.

A lady filming the video repeatedly stated the person seems pale and is “passing out.”

Wilkerson is barely seen within the first roughly 90 seconds of the video, however he might be heard saying he “cannot breathe.” He seems unstable as officers helped him to his toes and led him to a police cruiser. The video then exhibits the person is put within the cruiser and pushed away.

Wilkerson died later at a hospital. Crump stated Wilkerson’s demise was preventable, however “officers didn’t take his clearly declining situation critically.”

Wilkerson’s mom, Sherri Ford, informed the Day by day Impartial newspaper her son had a coronary heart situation that required a catheter when he was in his late 20s.

Dozens of family and friends members held a vigil for Wilkerson in Ashland on Tuesday.

Ashland Police stated the officers had been positioned on administrative go away whereas the incident is investigated. State police stated the investigation of Wilkerson’s demise is ongoing.