Post by pavel on Jan 21, 2016 18:21:27 GMT -6
DENVER (AP) — Prosecutors won't file criminal charges against six Denver sheriff's deputies in the death of a black, homeless jail inmate who suffocated while being restrained during a psychotic episode, District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said Thursday, prompting demands from the man's family for a federal investigation.
The deputies used necessary force and were not trying to hurt Michael Marshall, 50, when they restrained him in a prone position for several minutes after he became aggressive toward another inmate and ignored commands, Morrissey said. Marshall choked on his own vomit during the Nov. 11 encounter and died of "complications of positional asphyxia," according to a medical examiner who ruled the death a homicide.
The case adds to the list of problems for a troubled agency trying to reform after a series of misconduct and excessive force allegations. Darold Killmer, an attorney representing Marshall's family, called the decision not to prosecute "an outrage" and called for the Justice Department to investigate Denver's police and sheriff's departments.
"Sadly this is an example of how difficult it is for society as a whole, including deputies in a jail, to handle the complex issues presented by those suffering from severe mental illness," Morrissey wrote in a statement explaining his decision. The deputies were not violent toward Marshall and even tried to help him by performing CPR, Morrissey wrote.
Read more: bigstory.ap.org/article/7db3ac9176ce42baae26044ce4be0519/no-charges-denver-deputies-death-restrained-inmate
The deputies used necessary force and were not trying to hurt Michael Marshall, 50, when they restrained him in a prone position for several minutes after he became aggressive toward another inmate and ignored commands, Morrissey said. Marshall choked on his own vomit during the Nov. 11 encounter and died of "complications of positional asphyxia," according to a medical examiner who ruled the death a homicide.
The case adds to the list of problems for a troubled agency trying to reform after a series of misconduct and excessive force allegations. Darold Killmer, an attorney representing Marshall's family, called the decision not to prosecute "an outrage" and called for the Justice Department to investigate Denver's police and sheriff's departments.
"Sadly this is an example of how difficult it is for society as a whole, including deputies in a jail, to handle the complex issues presented by those suffering from severe mental illness," Morrissey wrote in a statement explaining his decision. The deputies were not violent toward Marshall and even tried to help him by performing CPR, Morrissey wrote.
Read more: bigstory.ap.org/article/7db3ac9176ce42baae26044ce4be0519/no-charges-denver-deputies-death-restrained-inmate