An attorney for the family of a man who died in Jackson police custody is speaking out about a video that surfaced that shows officers apparently using a stun gun the man.”People didn’t know about the severity of this incident with Keith,” attorney Daryl K. Washington said. “And people are now seeing snippets of this video and they are in disbelief.” The video recorded by a witness who didn’t want to be identified, apparently shows Jackson police officers using stun guns on Keith Murriel on New Year’s Eve outside the extended stay hotel on Beasley Road. “It will show one officer was giving instruction to her fellow officers to continuously Tase Keith. Tase a man who was not trying to harm anyone. Taser a man who’s on the ground with three officers on top of him,” Washington said.In radio traffic from Broadcastify, a dispatcher is heard questioning the officers about why they were deploying a Taser Murriel without calling paramedics. According to a news release from the Jackson Police Department, the 41-year-old died after experiencing a medical emergency once officers took him into custody.”The officers put so much pressure on his back and his entire body folded over,” Washington said. “Just the pressure and the force they were using on Keith was totally unnecessary.”Washington said the short video clip doesn’t tell the whole story, which is why he wants the officers’ body camera video released immediately.”We know that if this body cam footage, if it supported the officers’ narrative, I can assure you it would have been out the day of the incident,” Washington said.Washington said the family wants the three officers, who are currently on paid administrative leave, terminated and criminally prosecuted.”You have a mother. You have a father. You have two kids who are suffering, who are in pain, (who) will have to bury their brother and son this weekend,” Washington said.Chief James Davis said the body cam video won’t be released until the MBI investigation is complete. The Hinds County coroner said the state medical examiner hasn’t yet determined a cause of death.
An attorney for the family of a man who died in Jackson police custody is speaking out about a video that surfaced that shows officers apparently using a stun gun the man.
“People didn’t know about the severity of this incident with Keith,” attorney Daryl K. Washington said. “And people are now seeing snippets of this video and they are in disbelief.”
The video recorded by a witness who didn’t want to be identified, apparently shows Jackson police officers using stun guns on Keith Murriel on New Year’s Eve outside the extended stay hotel on Beasley Road.
“It will show one officer was giving instruction to her fellow officers to continuously Tase Keith. Tase a man who was not trying to harm anyone. Taser a man who’s on the ground with three officers on top of him,” Washington said.
In radio traffic from Broadcastify, a dispatcher is heard questioning the officers about why they were deploying a Taser Murriel without calling paramedics.
According to a news release from the Jackson Police Department, the 41-year-old died after experiencing a medical emergency once officers took him into custody.
“The officers put so much pressure on his back and his entire body folded over,” Washington said. “Just the pressure and the force they were using on Keith was totally unnecessary.”
Washington said the short video clip doesn’t tell the whole story, which is why he wants the officers’ body camera video released immediately.
“We know that if this body cam footage, if it supported the officers’ narrative, I can assure you it would have been out the day of the incident,” Washington said.
Washington said the family wants the three officers, who are currently on paid administrative leave, terminated and criminally prosecuted.
“You have a mother. You have a father. You have two kids who are suffering, who are in pain, (who) will have to bury their brother and son this weekend,” Washington said.
Chief James Davis said the body cam video won’t be released until the MBI investigation is complete. The Hinds County coroner said the state medical examiner hasn’t yet determined a cause of death.
