ISP Investigating Fatal Incident in Jasper County

Source: (PHOTO: )

JASPER COUNTY, Ind. — State Police recently mentioned an “incident” that happened in Jasper County last week. Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson provided more information about it Thursday.

Williamson explained that officers were called to help medics care for a man named Rhyker Earl on September 8th. Earl was apparently experiencing a “medical emergency” and some mental challenges, but he was resisting those trying to help him.

So, they put him in handcuffs, but Earl’s condition declined.

Williamson detailed Thursday that Earl would not calm down, and he eventually became unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital, but he did not survive.

Following his death, an attorney for the man’s family released information that police argued was “full of inaccuracies.” For example, it implied that officers had prevented Earl from breathing properly with a pillow and physically unsafe holds.

But, the Sheriff noted that body-cam footage from the scene indicated that Earl was “banging his head on the floor,” so officers placed a pillow underneath him in order to prevent injury.

He believed the fictitious claims were intended to help Earl’s family benefit in court and sway the community to find the officers at fault. State Police are now investigating.

ISP Investigating Fatal Incident in Jasper County was originally published on wibc.com