Officials said Friday that two Indianapolis police officers were exonerated of manslaughter in connection with the death of a man who was stunned and restrained on the ground during a mental health crisis.
The jury acquitted Indianapolis police officers Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez of all charges more than two years after the death of Herman Whitfield III.
According to authorities, the 39-year-old’s father said his son was experiencing psychosis when he contacted the police at 3:20 a.m. on April 25, 2022, and requested an ambulance.
Officers found Whitfield wandering around, nude, and bleeding from his lips. The police agency said that as he rushed forward an officer, they finally deployed a stun gun on him.
Before he passed away, Whitfield was shackled. He died, according to the prosecution, after being left prone and restrained.
Herman Jr. and Gladys Whitfield called for assistance in April 2022, believing that the police would save their son in a time of need. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated in a statement after the not guilty verdicts that the outcome was a complete tragedy.
In the context of law enforcement subdue, prone restraint, and electrical weapon use, Whitfield died of cardiac arrest, according to his autopsy, with morbid obesity and hypertensive cardiovascular disease playing a role. It was determined that he was murdered.
In 2023, Ahmad and Sanchez were charged with assault, reckless homicide, and involuntary manslaughter.
Whitfield’s death was terrible, but the evidence showed the officers did their best in difficult circumstances and did not commit a crime, according to John Kautzman, the defense lawyer for the officers, who spoke on Friday.
According to him, no one is in the business of going out and hurting people, especially sworn police officers. Helping people is what they do for a living, and that’s what they were attempting to do that day.
Chris Bailey, the chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, sent his condolences to the Whitfield family in a statement issued on Friday, stressing that the loss was tragic.
After the incident, Ahmad and Sanchez were put on leave; however, they will resume their regular responsibilities following refresher training, which Bailey explained was standard procedure.
According to Bailey, cases such as this are extremely challenging and there are no real winners.
Whitfield, who weighed 280 pounds and was 6 feet 2 inches tall, was handcuffed the morning of the incident, according to authorities.
Authorities said that Whitfield was unconscious when he was instructed to roll over by the medics who were waiting outside the house. According to the police department, Whitfield was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead after the handcuffs were taken off and CPR was started.
During the trial s closing statements, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Janna Skelton stated that the police opted to handcuff him on the floor and leave him in a prone position, resulting in his death, according to NBC station WTHR in Indianapolis.
Defence attorneys claimed that the handcuffing was legal, that Whitfield s heart stopped before the cuffs were applied, and that the police were performing their duties, according to the station.
Whitfield died nearly two years after George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis in May 2020 by an officer who kneeled on his neck, causing some police agencies throughout the country to re-evaluate or enhance policies for restraint of persons in custody.
Prosecutor Mears sent condolences to the Whitfields.
While heartbroken for the Whitfield family, I want to recognise the jurors for their consideration of the testimony and evidence over the past five days, Mears told the crowd.
A request for response Friday evening was not immediately answered by a lawyer claiming to represent the Whitfields.
He s a wonderful young man, Whitfield s father, Herman Whitfield Jr., said reporters when the police were indicted, according to video from WTHR.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.