Attorneys for the family of a man who died from “sudden cardiac arrest” after North Carolina police officers repeatedly used stun guns on him renewed calls Friday for the officers involved to be fired and criminally charged.
The Jan. 17 death of 32-year-old Darryl Tyree Williams was determined to be a homicide related to cocaine intoxication, physical exertion, conducted energy weapon use and physical restraint, according to a state autopsy report obtained by the Associated Press this week. Cocaine and a chemical contained in marijuana were found in his blood, the outlet reported, citing a toxicology report.
When asked about the drugs found in Williams’ system, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, accused officials of “moving the goal posts” at a Friday news conference.
“The autopsy tells us it was a homicide,” Crump said. “Everybody who looks at that video sees that Darryl Tyree Williams was walking, talking, breathing just fine until those officers tased him excessively after he told them that he had heart problems. So madam (district) attorney, I don’t know how many more excuses you’re going to come up with before you finally say ‘We gotta charge these officers.'”
What happened to Darryl Tyree Williams?
Officers were conducting “proactive patrols” in southeast Raleigh when they encountered Williams in the driver’s seat of a car and another person in the passenger seat, according to a preliminary report from the Raleigh Police Department. An officer saw a open container of alcohol and marijuana in the car and asked Williams and the passenger to get out, according to the report.
The officer attempted to arrest Williams for possession of a controlled substance after finding a folded dollar bill with white powder in his pocket, according to the report. During the attempted arrest, police said Williams was shocked three times and eventually handcuffed by officers.
Amid a flurry of commands and uses of a stun gun, Williams at times appeared to flee, only to be brought to the ground by officers, footage of the arrest released by a judge in February shows.
The video shows officers deployed the stun gun during an initial struggle and again after Williams said he has “heart problems,” as multiple officers held him to the ground. Several officers then handcuffed his hands behind his back.
Officers later asked if Williams if breathing, checked his pulse and did chest compressions before emergency services arrived, according to the footage.
Video:Man dies after cops restrained him on the ground, ignored his warning of ‘heart problems’ and used stun gun on him
What did the autopsy find?
The autopsy report listed the cause of Williams’ death “as sudden cardiac arrest in the setting of cocaine intoxication, physical exertion, conducted energy weapon use, and physical restraint.” Obesity and “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease” also contributed to his death, according to the report.
The autopsy found injuries on his back consistent with stun gun use. Williams had a “known medical history of obesity and substance (tobacco, marijuana, and cocaine) abuse,” the report said.
Medical records showed he also had a history of an unspecified irregular heartbeat, according to the report.
Attorney Dawn Blagrove, who is also representing Williams’ family, said at the news conference Friday Williams was not killed because of his heart problems, drug use and obesity.
“What put him in a grave was tasers. He was electrocuted in a parking lot while he was minding his own business,” said Blagrove, executive director of Emancipate NC. “And we need District Attorney Lorrin Freeman to do her job.”
Officers involved on leave as DA investigation continues
After footage of the arrest was released in February, Crump and Williams’ family called for the officers involved to be fired and charged with manslaughter.
Six Raleigh police officers are on administrative leave in connection with Williams’ death, Lt. Jason Borneo told USA TODAY Friday. Borneo also said the autopsy will be reviewed by the district attorney, who will determine if criminal charges will be brought. Borneo declined to comment further citing the ongoing investigation.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation conducted a probe into the incident and submitted its case file to Freeman, the Wake County district attorney, NCSBI spokesperson Angie Grube told the Associated Press.
Freeman’s office has received the autopsy report and more information will be released after a decision has been made on charges within the next 30 days, a spokesperson told USA TODAY.
Contributing: The Associated Press
