A lawyer representing the family of Thomas McGlothen, a 44-year-old black man who died in police custody, says the four police officers shown in a video beating him, should be fired and charged with murder. The four officers are on leave, but attorney James Carter says their badges should have been stripped immediately
“We don’t care about these so-called procedures. A blind man could see what happened here,” said Carter.
McGlothen died April 6th, but a Shreveport TV station released the video of his encounter with police this week. Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma says McGlothen died from excited delirium, a sudden death of individuals who are combative and in an agitated state. Carter calls that junk science
“This is something that is used to justify the killing of folks in police custody. That’s all that is,” said Carter.
The coroner says McGlothen’s death could have been preventable if officers reacted to his medical condition. Carter says that’s enough proof the responding cops should be fired.
“They have certain procedures that are supposed to happen in situations like that. It didn’t happen and it resulted in the unneccesary and tragic death of our beloved Tommie McGlothen,” said Carter.
Carter says McGlothen suffered from mental illness. The corner’s report says the injuries sustained from police tasing and hitting him did not result in his death.
Comments