THREAD
This a plea to journalists.
When someone dies under a pile of officers, the death is NOT an isolated event.
And there are many more deaths than just the death of George Floyd.
Let's start with 4/19/21 death of #MarioGonzalez
Body camera released yesterday
1/
This a plea to journalists.
When someone dies under a pile of officers, the death is NOT an isolated event.
And there are many more deaths than just the death of George Floyd.
Let's start with 4/19/21 death of #MarioGonzalez
Body camera released yesterday
1/
Gonzalez was held prone (on stomach) and handcuffed for multiple minutes before he stopped breathing
Happened in Alameda, CA, day before George Floyd verdict.
It's generated quite a few stories now that body cam is out
2/
usatoday.com/story/news/nat…
Happened in Alameda, CA, day before George Floyd verdict.
It's generated quite a few stories now that body cam is out
2/
usatoday.com/story/news/nat…
It's natural for people to see this and instantly think of Floyd
But here's the thing,
Our ongoing #PRONE investigation has found dozens of other deaths just like the deaths of Floyd and Gonzalez
How many?
My list now has 118 names. People like Roy Nelson. Died in 2015
3/
But here's the thing,
Our ongoing #PRONE investigation has found dozens of other deaths just like the deaths of Floyd and Gonzalez
How many?
My list now has 118 names. People like Roy Nelson. Died in 2015
3/
Roy Nelson, according to body camera footage, spent 4 minutes and 29 seconds prone and handcuffed before Hayward police officers turned him over.
City settled for a million dollars
4/
mercurynews.com/2019/10/08/i-c…
City settled for a million dollars
4/
mercurynews.com/2019/10/08/i-c…
Tony Timpa was prone and handcuffed for 14 minutes and 19 seconds
Happened in Dallas, Texas, in 2016.
5/
Happened in Dallas, Texas, in 2016.
5/
Kenneth Christopher Lucas
Prone and handcuffed for 16 minutes and 52 seconds
6/
chron.com/houston/articl…
Prone and handcuffed for 16 minutes and 52 seconds
6/
chron.com/houston/articl…
Michael Marshall
Prone and handcuffed for 9 minutes and 12 seconds
City of Denver paid his family $4.6 million
7/
Prone and handcuffed for 9 minutes and 12 seconds
City of Denver paid his family $4.6 million
7/
John Neville
Prone and handcuffed for 17 minutes and 22 seconds
8/
Prone and handcuffed for 17 minutes and 22 seconds
8/
I have SO many names.
I've watched hours of incredibly graphic body camera footage
Looked through hundreds of lawsuits and depositions and filings
And tallied at least $126 million in settlements and verdicts
9/
I've watched hours of incredibly graphic body camera footage
Looked through hundreds of lawsuits and depositions and filings
And tallied at least $126 million in settlements and verdicts
9/
People die because they're held for minutes in a vulnerable position.
The #DerekChauvinTrial taught us of the dangers of that
it also taught us that the science that used to dominate this debate is, in the eyes on some, in serious doubt
10/
9news.com/article/news/i…
The #DerekChauvinTrial taught us of the dangers of that
it also taught us that the science that used to dominate this debate is, in the eyes on some, in serious doubt
10/
9news.com/article/news/i…
I have so many names
So many cities
so many officers
11/
So many cities
so many officers
11/
When someone dies in your city like this...
...resist the urge to think of it as an isolated, strange, inexplicable case
It's not
it's part of a pattern
and that pattern only begins to slow with better coverage of these deaths.
12/
...resist the urge to think of it as an isolated, strange, inexplicable case
It's not
it's part of a pattern
and that pattern only begins to slow with better coverage of these deaths.
12/
Why did I start this project?
Because in 2018, a NAVY veteran named David Baker died under several police officers in Colorado.
You've likely never heard of him
His death generated almost zero headlines
Taken on its own, it might just have seemed like an isolated event
13/
Because in 2018, a NAVY veteran named David Baker died under several police officers in Colorado.
You've likely never heard of him
His death generated almost zero headlines
Taken on its own, it might just have seemed like an isolated event
13/
I've since learned a lot more
and I would urge you to try to do the same.
Reexamine in-custody deaths. Look for video. Look for signs officers held the person handcuffed and prone
I know of 118 deaths. I know there are many more
14/
and I would urge you to try to do the same.
Reexamine in-custody deaths. Look for video. Look for signs officers held the person handcuffed and prone
I know of 118 deaths. I know there are many more
14/
Thanks to the people who are helping me amplify this story.
Recently, I did an interview on this very subject with @MichaelSchulder
It gets to the heart of much of this
15/
michaelschulder.substack.com/p/george-floyd…
Recently, I did an interview on this very subject with @MichaelSchulder
It gets to the heart of much of this
15/
michaelschulder.substack.com/p/george-floyd…
Sorry for the long thread...
But if you remember anything out of this... remember this.
A quarter century has passed since this warning from the federal govt.
These are not isolated. It is systemic
16/16
ojp.gov/pdffiles/posas…
But if you remember anything out of this... remember this.
A quarter century has passed since this warning from the federal govt.
These are not isolated. It is systemic
16/16
ojp.gov/pdffiles/posas…
and seriously...
if you're a journalist, and want to know more about this...
please email me
chris@9news.com
17/16
if you're a journalist, and want to know more about this...
please email me
chris@9news.com
17/16
One more thing.
Almost zero legislators are addressing this
Not Congress. Not states.
Yes, there are major efforts at police reform.
But dealing with prolonged prone restraint is almost never part of those efforts.
Why?
Many of these deaths receive little attention
18/16
Almost zero legislators are addressing this
Not Congress. Not states.
Yes, there are major efforts at police reform.
But dealing with prolonged prone restraint is almost never part of those efforts.
Why?
Many of these deaths receive little attention
18/16
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