IN - Rhyker Earl, 26, dead after police pin him down after seizure, DeMotte, 8 SEP 2024

[Bounceycat]

Father dies after being handcuffed, pinned to floor by Jasper County deputies during seizure: family

Rhyker Earl's aunt, Miracle Gawlinski, said the 26-year-old father of two "was pleading for his life."

abc7chicago.com

"Father dies after being handcuffed, pinned to floor by Jasper County deputies during seizure: family

Rhyker Earl's aunt, Miracle Gawlinski, said the 26-year-old father of two 'was pleading for his life.'"

My summary: Earl's family called police after he suffered his second seizure of the day. The family says he was pinned to the floor by the police while he begged for his life. He was put on life support at the hospital and died two days later. State Police are investigating but have not responded to requests for comment.

 

[Bounceycat]

https://wgntv.com/news/indiana/i-witnessed-him-begging-for-his-life-indiana-father-dies-after-police-encounter-following-seizure-attorney-says/

“She’s (the aunt) the one who has reported that he, in trying to put on his shorts to go to the hospital, fell over and bumped into either a police officer or one of the first responders, and that seemed to trigger a change in their behavior to treating him like a criminal at that point instead of a patient,” the family’s attorney Stephen Wagner said.

.......

“I was just begging and pleading, ‘He’s blue, he’s blue, like he’s blue, you can tell he’s blue do something, take his pulse,'” Gawlinski said.

According to Gawlinski, when first responders did take his pulse, there wasn’t one.

Earl was then taken to the hospital, but tests confirmed he had no brain activity. He was eventually removed from life support on Sept. 10th."

 

[Audrina]

as a person who has experienced seizures, I can confirm you can come out of them very agitated and confused. this poor guy did NOT deserve this, and the cops should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 

[Bounceycat]

Statement from the Jasper County (Indiana) Sheriff's Office Facebook Page - 12 SEP 2024:

PRESS RELEASE - September 12th, 2024

On September 8, 2024, at approximately 8:35 p.m., the Jasper County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 medical call from a residence located about 4 miles southwest of DeMotte, Indiana. Keener Township EMS arrived on scene and promptly requested assistance from the Fire Department and Sheriff's Deputies.

On September 10, 2024, the Sheriff's Office was informed that the patient had passed away. The Lake County Coroner’s Office will complete their investigation and notify the family accordingly. The Jasper County Sheriff's Office has requested that the Indiana State Police investigate the incident.

For any inquiries regarding the investigation, please contact the Indiana State Police.

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[Audrina]

Statement from the Jasper County (Indiana) Sheriff's Office Facebook Page - 12 SEP 2024:

PRESS RELEASE - September 12th, 2024

On September 8, 2024, at approximately 8:35 p.m., the Jasper County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 medical call from a residence located about 4 miles southwest of DeMotte, Indiana. Keener Township EMS arrived on scene and promptly requested assistance from the Fire Department and Sheriff's Deputies.

On September 10, 2024, the Sheriff's Office was informed that the patient had passed away. The Lake County Coroner’s Office will complete their investigation and notify the family accordingly. The Jasper County Sheriff's Office has requested that the Indiana State Police investigate the incident.

For any inquiries regarding the investigation, please contact the Indiana State Police.

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I love that they're getting relentlessly called out in comments

 

[TristanP]

It’s MURDER.

 

[Bounceycat]

‘Rhyker was at risk for so many reasons:’ Indiana father dies after police encounter following seizure, attorney says

DEMOTTE, Ind. — A Northwest Indiana family held a visitation for a beloved father on Tuesday night after they said he died because of an encounter with police during a medical call for help. Last week, on Sunday, Sept. 8, Emergency Medical Technicians were called to help 26-year-old Rhyker Earl...

www.yahoo.com

The family has hired national civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Indiana attorney Stephen Wagner to investigate what happened, and they are zeroing in on the actions of officers and EMTs, which they say put Earl at greater risk.

“The dangers of prone restraint have been known for years to law enforcement. Everybody in the public has known about them since the George Floyd case in May 2020. But it was even worse here because Rhyker was at risk for so many reasons, he had just had a seizure, he was a large man, he was handcuffed behind his back face down, they knew that he had asthma, his face was in a pillow, and on top of all that, they have him three rounds of sedatives,” Wagner said.

The coroner has not yet released Earl’s cause of death, but the attorneys are requesting his medical records and the body camera video of the incident to get answers for his family.

Indiana State Police are now investigating the incident.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office told WGN-TV that it had no comment.

WGN has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the body camera video.

 

[Bounceycat]

Rhyker's obituary:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/rhyker-earl-obituary?id=56278845

 

[Occam's Zebra]

So tired of LE acting like fragile-egoed idjits. They killed a man.

Also confused why LE would respond to a 911 call for someone having a medical emergency. EMTs at least should understand seizures and what can happen in the post-ictal state.

 

[Bounceycat]

So tired of LE acting like fragile-egoed idjits. They killed a man.

Also confused why LE would respond to a 911 call for someone having a medical emergency. EMTs at least should understand seizures and what can happen in the post-ictal state.

For some reason, both EMT and police responded. Hopefully, we'll learn more about this and why it happened, as evidence comes to light. I really hope they had their body cameras on and functional.

 

[HmmMysterious]

I hope the officers involved get fired for this- they're thugs and murderers.

 

[tlcya]

I am following this case. It is utterly ridiculous that even after all the criminal prosecutions we have seen and civil lawsuits won over positional asphyxia we've seen that LEOs and EMT continue to engage in these behaviors. WHY did the EMTs allow the LEOs to do this? My understanding that if a 911 MEDICAL call comes in - once EMTs arrive IT IS THEIR SCENE. Nobody asked for LE. Medical assistance was requested.

I hope Rhyker's family sues Jasper County for all they've got and I hope ISP finds criminal behavior in their investigation which results in the prosecution of the deputies involved in this murder. Quite frankly the EMTs should lose their jobs at the very least. Particularly since earlier in the day those same EMTs had responded to a call involving Rhyker having another seizure and so during the fatal call they were aware of Rhyker, his medical issues including seizures and asthma.
----------------------------
“The dangers of prone restraint have been known for years to law enforcement. Everybody in the public has known about them since the George Floyd case in May 2020. But it was even worse here because Rhyker was at risk for so many reasons, he had just had a seizure, he was a large man, he was handcuffed behind his back face down, they knew that he had asthma, his face was in a pillow, and on top of all that, they gave him three rounds of sedatives,” Wagner said.

https://wgntv.com/news/indiana/i-witnessed-him-begging-for-his-life-indiana-father-dies-after-police-encounter-following-seizure-attorney-says/

 

[Bounceycat]

Sheriff responds to 'misleading claims' after Rhyker Earl dies after being handcuffed during seizure

Rhyker Earl's aunt, Miracle Gawlinski, said the 26-year-old father of two "was pleading for his life."

abc7chicago.com

Sheriff Williamson said when he reviewed the body cam footage, Earl was "forcefully banging his head on the floor." At which time deputies asked the family for a pillow to prevent self-harm.

The sheriff added that deputies were restraining the 26-year-old by his legs, arms and shoulders and later placed him on his side, which he said is known as the "recovery position."

"His head was lying on the pillow; his breathing was not restricted," he said

 

[Bounceycat]

Lawyers say an Indiana man 'begged for his life' before dying in custody. Police say the lawyers 'gaslit' their Indiana town

Rhyker Earl, 26, died after having a severe seizure on Sept. 10. His family called 911. Lawyers and police disagree on how it happened.

www.wthr.com

Now national civil rights lawyer Ben Crump has joined the legal fight, accusing police of excessive force. The Jasper County Sheriff says Crump and co-counsel Stephen Wagner are gaslighting their small community.

Lawyers for the family said "Rhyker begged for his life and screamed he couldn't breathe. His please, and those of his aunt and grandmother, were ignored."

But according to a statement from the sheriff, "multiple family members pleaded with (Earl) to remain calm and attempted to ensure him that deputies and medical personnel were there to help him."

 

[Bounceycat]

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A MESSAGE FROM SHERIFF WILLIAMSON TO OUR COMMUNITY REGARDING THE DEATH OF RHYKER EARL

On September 8, 2024, Jasper Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to the home of 26-year-old Rhyker Earl to assist EMTs from Keener Township Emergency Medical Services. Mr. Earl was suffering a medical emergency and demonstrating mental difficulties and significant physical resistance to the medical personnel on the scene.

Deputies placed Mr. Earl in handcuffs for his safety and that of the medical providers. Mr. Earl was in an excited state and did not respond to pleas from deputies or his family to remain calm. Sadly, Mr. Earl ultimately became unresponsive, was taken to the hospital, and later passed away.

Compounding this tragic event, an attorney representing the family issued a press release full of inaccuracies about what happened that evening. In an apparent attempt to set the table for a civil claim, he has gaslit this community and the nation with gross falsehoods concerning the actions of our deputies.

We have reviewed the body-worn cameras of multiple deputies at the scene that evening and would like to address a couple false or misleading claims from the attorney’s press release:

“Officers stayed on top of Rhyker for more than 15 minutes, with his face in a pillow.”

In the body-worn camera video, Mr. Earl is seen forcefully banging his head on the floor. Deputies immediately asked the family for a pillow and placed it under his head to prevent Mr. Earl from injuring himself. His head was lying on the pillow; his breathing was not restricted.

In addition, the video clearly shows deputies were restraining Mr. Earl by his legs, arms, and shoulders. Per training, deputies were holding him in such a way that would not restrict breathing, and Mr. Earl was vocalizing during the entire incident. Deputies also placed Mr. Earl on his side, also known as the “recovery position.”

“His pleas, and those of his aunt and grandmother, were ignored.”

Mr. Earl was in an excited state, and multiple family members pleaded with him to remain calm and attempted to ensure him that deputies and medical personnel were there to help him. The family was standing nearby, verbally aiding in calming Mr. Earl.

The Indiana State Police are independently investigating this incident. We intend to release the body-worn camera video once the investigative agency has cleared us to do so.

By: Sheriff Pat Williamson

 

[azure]

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A MESSAGE FROM SHERIFF WILLIAMSON TO OUR COMMUNITY REGARDING THE DEATH OF RHYKER EARL

On September 8, 2024, Jasper Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to the home of 26-year-old Rhyker Earl to assist EMTs from Keener Township Emergency Medical Services. Mr. Earl was suffering a medical emergency and demonstrating mental difficulties and significant physical resistance to the medical personnel on the scene.

Deputies placed Mr. Earl in handcuffs for his safety and that of the medical providers. Mr. Earl was in an excited state and did not respond to pleas from deputies or his family to remain calm. Sadly, Mr. Earl ultimately became unresponsive, was taken to the hospital, and later passed away.

Compounding this tragic event, an attorney representing the family issued a press release full of inaccuracies about what happened that evening. In an apparent attempt to set the table for a civil claim, he has gaslit this community and the nation with gross falsehoods concerning the actions of our deputies.

We have reviewed the body-worn cameras of multiple deputies at the scene that evening and would like to address a couple false or misleading claims from the attorney’s press release:

“Officers stayed on top of Rhyker for more than 15 minutes, with his face in a pillow.”

In the body-worn camera video, Mr. Earl is seen forcefully banging his head on the floor. Deputies immediately asked the family for a pillow and placed it under his head to prevent Mr. Earl from injuring himself. His head was lying on the pillow; his breathing was not restricted.

In addition, the video clearly shows deputies were restraining Mr. Earl by his legs, arms, and shoulders. Per training, deputies were holding him in such a way that would not restrict breathing, and Mr. Earl was vocalizing during the entire incident. Deputies also placed Mr. Earl on his side, also known as the “recovery position.”

“His pleas, and those of his aunt and grandmother, were ignored.”

Mr. Earl was in an excited state, and multiple family members pleaded with him to remain calm and attempted to ensure him that deputies and medical personnel were there to help him. The family was standing nearby, verbally aiding in calming Mr. Earl.

The Indiana State Police are independently investigating this incident. We intend to release the body-worn camera video once the investigative agency has cleared us to do so.

By: Sheriff Pat Williamson

That explains everything except for that one pesky hanging detail where Rhyker died after the officers restrained him.

 

[Bounceycat]

That explains everything except for that one pesky hanging detail where Rhyker died after the officers restrained him.

And how they restrained him while also sedating him - a big, big risk.

 

[HmmMysterious]

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A MESSAGE FROM SHERIFF WILLIAMSON TO OUR COMMUNITY REGARDING THE DEATH OF RHYKER EARL

On September 8, 2024, Jasper Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to the home of 26-year-old Rhyker Earl to assist EMTs from Keener Township Emergency Medical Services. Mr. Earl was suffering a medical emergency and demonstrating mental difficulties and significant physical resistance to the medical personnel on the scene.

Deputies placed Mr. Earl in handcuffs for his safety and that of the medical providers. Mr. Earl was in an excited state and did not respond to pleas from deputies or his family to remain calm. Sadly, Mr. Earl ultimately became unresponsive, was taken to the hospital, and later passed away.

Compounding this tragic event, an attorney representing the family issued a press release full of inaccuracies about what happened that evening. In an apparent attempt to set the table for a civil claim, he has gaslit this community and the nation with gross falsehoods concerning the actions of our deputies.

We have reviewed the body-worn cameras of multiple deputies at the scene that evening and would like to address a couple false or misleading claims from the attorney’s press release:

“Officers stayed on top of Rhyker for more than 15 minutes, with his face in a pillow.”

In the body-worn camera video, Mr. Earl is seen forcefully banging his head on the floor. Deputies immediately asked the family for a pillow and placed it under his head to prevent Mr. Earl from injuring himself. His head was lying on the pillow; his breathing was not restricted.

In addition, the video clearly shows deputies were restraining Mr. Earl by his legs, arms, and shoulders. Per training, deputies were holding him in such a way that would not restrict breathing, and Mr. Earl was vocalizing during the entire incident. Deputies also placed Mr. Earl on his side, also known as the “recovery position.”

“His pleas, and those of his aunt and grandmother, were ignored.”

Mr. Earl was in an excited state, and multiple family members pleaded with him to remain calm and attempted to ensure him that deputies and medical personnel were there to help him. The family was standing nearby, verbally aiding in calming Mr. Earl.

The Indiana State Police are independently investigating this incident. We intend to release the body-worn camera video once the investigative agency has cleared us to do so.

By: Sheriff Pat Williamson

Filing this in my "Total BS" cabinet

 

[Bounceycat]

‘Grandma, please, make ‘em get off of me’ | Family calls for release of body cam video as Indiana father dies after police incident

Rhyker Earl’s family called 911 after he had a seizure in his home. They say police held him down while he screamed that he couldn’t breathe.

www.21alivenews.com

The family and their lawyers held a press conference on Sept. 23, in DeMotte, Indiana where Earl lived. They called for the Jasper County Sheriff to release body camera video from the night they were called for help.

Both the family and police agree on many details of what happened. Including that, while handcuffed on his floor, Earl stopped breathing.
....

 “He’s begging for his life like, ‘Grandma, grandma, please, make ‘em get off of me,’” Connie Widner said.

The statement from the Jasper County Sheriff’ says: “per training, deputies were holding him in such a way that would not restrict breathing, and Mr. Earl was vocalizing through the entire incident.”

“He says he has the video and has reviewed it and that Rhyker was verbalizing,” Steve Wagner, another lawyer for the family, said. “But he didn’t say what Rhyker was verbalizing. We know what Rhyker was verbalizing. He was saying he can’t breathe.”

 

[Bounceycat]

Family calls for release of body cam footage of late Rhyker Earl being handcuffed during seizure

Rhyker Earl's aunt, Miracle Gawlinski, said the 26-year-old father of two "was pleading for his life" when officers pinned him to the floor.

abc7chicago.com

Famed Civil Rights Lawyer Ben Crump joined their legal fight to accuse police of using excessive force.

"To this day, I regret calling the ambulance," Earl's grandmother said. "I don't know if we would ever call an ambulance again, because there was no justice for Rhyker."
.....

The Lake County, Indiana coroner is dealing with the cause of death, which they say, is still pending.