South Carolina Deputies Not Charged For Repeatedly Tasing a Mentally Ill Black Man Before His Death

Charleston, South Carolina deputies will not face any charges for the death of Jamal Sutherland, a mentally ill black man that was tased six times or more in Al Cannon Detention Center.

9th Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson announced on Monday that she couldn’t prove criminal intent, although she conceded the incident was “entirely avoidable.” The report by her read, “With better treatment, care, and concern by all the institutions involved, Jamal Sutherland would not have died the way he did on January 5,”.

Sutherland passed away on Jan. 5 after being removed with force from his cell for a bond hearing by two Charleston County sheriff’s deputies, Brian Houle and Lindsay Fickett. They tased him with a stun gun repeatedly, according to camera footage in the facility.

Houle told the medical staff that Sutherland got tased “probably six to eight times at least,” according to the footage. Fickett was seen kneeling on Sutherland’s back. Sheriff Kristin Graziano since fired the two deputies.