Another video has surfaced, showing four officers using brutal force while arresting a black man, who later died while in police custody, ABC News reports.
On April 5, Tommie Dale McGlothen, 44, had an altercation with four Shreveport police officers in the northern Louisiana city. KSLA News released a 4 ½ minute video that was recorded on a witness’s cellphone. Officers wrestled with McGlothen, who can be seen kicking, to the ground. One officer is shown repeatedly punching and hitting the victim with his baton. Footage also captured a voice saying officers were using a taser.
Eventually, McGlothen appears on camera handcuffed and on his feet, but he either falls or was pushed to the ground. Once back on his feet, police walk and push him inside the police car, but not before hitting his head on the hood of the vehicle.
The day the encounter took place, police were responding to a Shreveport home after McGlothen blocked a driveway and followed a homeowner inside the home. When officers arrived, McGlothen was “mumbling incoherently” and “exhibiting signs of paranoia and emotional disturbance,” the coroner, Dr. Todd Thoma, reported during a Tuesday news release.
“Police officers used Tasers, mace, and nightsticks to control McGlothen, who was agitated and combative and had fought with a homeowner,” according to the coroner. The coroner’s medical report classified “excited delirium” as the cause of death. However, the coroner added, his death may have been possible to prevent had he received the “obvious medical attention” he needed.
McGlothen was left in the back of the patrol car for 48 minutes before police discovered him unresponsive and not breathing.
“He was predominantly unsupervised during this entire period. After a violent confrontation with psychotic behavior, and being tased several times, a more thorough evaluation … would have been indicated,” Dr. Thoma said. Also adding, although the autopsy showed he suffered blunt force injuries from both his confrontations with officers and citizens earlier that day, they were not severe or life-threatening.
“Mr. McGlothen had underlying heart disease and clearly was suffering from excited delirium. The combination of these factors caused his death,” the corner added.
As for the four officers, Police Chief, Ben Raymond announced Monday that they were all placed on leave pending the investigation that he says is a “matter of great concern.”
The investigation results have been given to the District Attorney’s Office, and the state police will review. Stewart asks that eyewitnesses share what they witnessed and if there are additional videos to please bring them forward.
According to ABC News, the Caddo Parrish District Attorney, James E. Stewart, Sr., is questioning the investigation of McGlothen as well as Wavey Austin, another individual who died on April 19.
Shreveport Mayor, Adrian Perkins also voiced his concerns over McGlothen’s death and the use of force upon a person who appeared to be suffering from a mental illness.
“Shreveport police officers are charged with serving and protecting all of our citizens, that includes those with mental illness,” he said. “We’re responsible for those in our custody,” Perkins stated during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
As a solution, he would like to see more training for first responders responding to calls that involve instances like McGlothen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxZTZS20rcE
