Thread by @GregoryYYee

Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson's press conference on the death of #JamalSutherland is starting #CHSnews

"Jamal Sutherland did exactly what we ask of people to do, people with mental illness … to get help when they need it. That's exactly what he did," Wilson said #CHSnews

"It's so sad that the day before this happened … Jamal Sutherland tried to check himself out of that facility saying he was worse now than when he went in," Wilson said #CHSnews

Wilson speaking about compounding errors that led to Sutherland's death #CHSnews

Solicitor commenting on the fact that she doesn't know what it feels like to be in fear of dying at the hands of law enforcement because of the color of her skin, says that although she doesn't have that experience, she does bring experience prosecuting criminal cases #CHSnews

Speaking r.e. the videos: they are damning and they are one of the reasons that this case and this analysis has taken as long as it's taken. Wilson said she set out to build a case #CHSnews

Wilson saying the pathologist's original conclusion that videos showed nothing excessive and nothing of direct concern r.e. deputies' actions. "There were many who told me, ethically you cannot move forward at this point. … But I know what I saw," #CHSnews

Wilson said she owed it to the Sutherlands and to the community to do a thorough investigation #CHSnews

"We know what the deputies did. The question is why did they do it? What were they thinking? What were they feeling? What was their criminal intent? That's getting into their mind," Wilson said #CHSnews

Proving what they did wasn't the problem, Wilson said. "We have to get into what they were thinking and what they believed. They made some grave mistakes, but what you will hear is some of the reasons they made these mistakes." #CHSnews

Wilson turning it over to Gary Raney, an expert in use of force and jail deaths #CHSnews

Raney outlining his report: jail commander orders deputies to forcibly extract Sutherland from his cell. "As they started, they failed to employ adequate deescalation techniques." Also notes insufficient staffing in the jail #CHSnews

Only Deputy Houle was certified to do a forcible extraction #CHSnews

To send 2 ppl in to do a forcible cell extraction is "unheard of in jails in the United States," Raney said #CHSnews

Deputies failed to wait for pepper spray to take effect. 2nd pepper spray to Taser was less than a minute, Raney said #CHSnews

Sutherland reacts to Sgt. Fickett's Taser. Goes to ground and slides along ground. "In what seems like a minor tactical error, Deputy Houle moved behind Mr. Sutherland to handcuff him," that puts Houle inside the cell with no means of escape #CHSnews

Houle gets one handcuff on but struggles with the other. He perceives resistance but it's unknown what exactly happened. Because of poor communication Fickett perceives resistance and charges her Taser a second time #CHSnews

Fickett used her taser 5 times and Houle used his 3 times. Raney said he had to determine whether deputies violated any training or agency practices #CHSnews

Raney said in 2008 CCSO adopted new tactics for the jail extractions relying on intimidation and force rather than deescalation. Raney said wearing tactical vests and shotguns "It's nothing less than shocking in my mind" #CHSnews

Raney said Fickett and Houle had done this many times. "I believe from the evidence that these actions had happened dozens probably many times before," but this is the first time the poor practices led to death #CHSnews

Wilson said she has 2 questions for Raney to address: the SOG tactical gear. Why did that have such an effect in this case?
Raney: CCSO's emphasis on its tactical team created gladiators rather than guardians and the mentality that heavy force is a first resort #CHSnews

Wilson: why use Taser rather than hands and physical force?
Raney: a Taser is less harmful than a fist strike or a kick. It's ineffective and can cause injuries. Taser is considered a very good tool, while typically not being harmful but they can be abused #CHSnews

Raney: it truly is a safe tool if used in the right way #CHSnews

Wilson: in my report you'll be able to link to various videos … and again Mr. Raney went back to 2008 to talk about that culture, use of force instead of deescalation #CHSnews

Wilson: CCSO Sheriff Kristin Graziano has said she intended to make jail reforms and change policies. Solicitor says she'll take her word on that #CHSnews

Wilson: On Jan. 5, deputies' actions were horrific but not rogue. The solicitor speaking about Houle meeting Jamal and immediately knowing something's not right. Goes to his supervisor but was ordered to go in anyway #CHSnews

Wilson: The administration decided it was so important for him to go to a hearing where he likely would have gotten a PR bond and released #CHSnews

Wilson: deputies spent 12-15 min trying to talk to Jamal trying to explain to him where he needed to go. "They didn't want to hurt him. … When all you have is a hammer, you see a nail. They had to go in per their supervisors" #CHSnews

Wilson: there had been training (they talked a good game on deescalation but they didn't teach it) on use of a Taser not just when someone's resisting, but when someone's passively resisting. When they don't follow orders Taser's fair game, per the training #CHSnews

Wilson: this looks excessive. In South Carolina, that's not the standard, and that needs to change. I've been calling for that change for quite some time #CHSnews

Wilson: I understand ppl will have a hard time with the decision not to prosecute. But she says there was no real choice as a prosecutor. This is one of those cases that many armchair lawyers … I cannot prove criminal intent beyond a reasonable doubt in this case #CHSnews

Wilson: We want law enforcement to get it together and clean up their act. We want race equity … but none of them are the right reason to charge someone. We have to charge based on the facts and not emotion #CHSnews

Wilson says we have an opportunity to change how we treat and see people with mental illness. We have opportunity to change how the jail operates. If jail doesn't change its training, it will happen again #CHSnews

"It's time for SC to have an excessive force statute, a use of force statute," Wilson said #CHSnews

"Under out law, these deputies are viewed as if they are any other citizen. It's not an objectively reasonable standard. … with the tools that we have, we are limited in our options. I cannot and will not say what happened to Jamal Sutherland is justified. It is not #CHSnews

Wilson said she can prove that the deputies did but can't prove their criminal intent #CHSnews