A grand just just announced on Friday that they will not indict a Maryland police officer who killed an unarmed man who had Down Syndrome.
“They felt no further investigation was necessary,” Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith, said about the death of Robert Ethan Saylor, 26.
Smith explained at a news conference just outside of the county courthouse, that “no crime had been committed.”
As with all grand juries, the proceedings were held in secrecy. Three deputies involved in the death were Lt. Scott Jewell, Sgt. Rich Rochford and Deputy First Class James Harris.
Saylor’s parents said they were “extremely disappointed and saddened and concerned.”
“This is a really hard day for them,” their attorney Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum said.
“They’re going to have to digest this unsettling news and determine their next step.”
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12 comments:
There needs to immediately be some retraining in all law enforcement agencies.
I understand that being forceful is necessary from time to time. But how many people, from ALL colors have to die. There must be ways of subduing people without killing them.
I think LE agencies also should become much more selective in their hiring process and stop hiring straight up arrogant f heads.
And cops wonder why people don't trust them. I stay away from cops and bad neighborhoods with equal efforts. Either one can ruin your day.
This is an indictment of a system that is clearly not working.
Sad case all around. Parents overwhelmed by the care it takes when a handicapped child is entrusted in their care.
He was morbidly obese and regularly exhibited aggressiveness including on the day of his death.
Was taken to a very violent loud movie which could have possibly added to his already agitated state.
Non family caregiver was young and inexperienced. Called mother when he wouldn't leave movie and was starting to get agitated to the point of hitting on a glass window. Mother was a bit nonchalant and told caregiver to leave him and bring the car closer.
I think jurors found too many levels were a factors and all levels combined contributed to his death. That is wasn't just one factor. This I don't know for certain and I wasn't there so I'm not judging whether the decision was right or wrong only why possibly the jury came to the conclusion that it did.
How can a sane grown up human being that's been hired to uphold the laws of the state they live in, look a down's syndrome adult and NOT understand their diminished ability to reason? Not one cop but three overbearing adults attempting to incapacitate one person with a child's mentality. Where's their compassion? Their reasoning? Their empathy? And all over not leaving a movie. Did it not occur to any of them to pay out of their own pocket the cost of a movie for this big kid or ask the theatre manager to allow him to stay? They could easily tell that he could Not manage life by himself, so where was his guardian? I've read most of the accounts of this tragedy and the girl taking care of him returned to the theatre moments after this happened, just a little to late. Heartless people getting a free pass from a court system that should have punished all involved. This is the real world, full of self anointed we are always right beings. The rest of us disagree. If this were your child how would you feel about the outcome? As long as human beings believe they have the right to hold the power of dominion over others, this will continue. You can retrain law enforcement till the end of time, there's no substitute for compassion and empathy. This story reflects their truth, as well the court system that should have punished them..
This is appalling but there are over 550,000 police in this country you in no way can weed out all the bad ones. The sad fact it is usually too late when you find out you have a weak officer. Agencies need to police their own. As stated in previous post to lump all cops into one basket is like saying all bloggers are are bad. It is just not true. I will say i only look at this blog even though I feel Joe gets on a cop bashing tirade at times lol. Keep in mind there are police doing it right every day without exception.
People do have avenues to report bad and good cops utilize it. It helps administrations weed out the trouble cops. People this is real world there is bad in every profession.
Grand jury's make grand decisions as is indicated in this case.Saylor's parents would appeal to Jesus if he agreed to hear the case,but it needs to be over.Point made,case closed.Don't try to bundle this up with any other cases.Police should be banned from responding to special needs cases.Even in the capacity of a security officer they should have bowed out and allowed him to tear the place apart.
Wicomico County Sheriff's Department had training on this in May. The training supported the fact that many in the exceptional needs community suffer from something termed "Positional Asphyxia" and the fact that when it is necessary to restrain a member of this community in particular that they turn the individual on their side and immediately call for EMS. Say what you want about Sheriff Lewis, but he was certainly on point with this training.
being "disabled" does not make him immune to any law.
To expand to 12:54's comment- Positional asphyxia occurs when someone's position prevents them from breathing adequately. The number one risk factor that increases the chance of death occurring when someone is restrained in a face down position is obesity.
Probably won't be rioting, arson and looting though.
1:32 Troll. I believe the message here is that you need to deal with each situation individually.
Personally I believe excessive force was used under the circumstances. It could and should have been handled differently.
I do not except anyone that has not dealt with a mentally disabled person to understand. Pick your battles, and a $6 movie ticket should not have become a battle. The theater should have recognized what they were dealing with and graciously said..let him stay, no biggie.
People should not be dying over such ridiculousness.
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