Editor鈥檚 Note: For a deep dive into this topic, check out the latest episode of SA国际传媒鈥檚 鈥淚nsider Analysis: Fatality after EMS intervention during police restraint鈥�.
By Amy Lavalley
Post-Tribune
JASPER COUNTY, Ind. 鈥� In a statement released Thursday, Jasper County Sheriff Pat Williamson denied claims about how Rhyker Earl, 26, of DeMotte, was restrained by police before his death, made by his family鈥檚 attorneys.
Williamson said his department has reviewed multiple body-worn cameras worn by deputies when they were called on Sept. 8 to Earl鈥檚 home because he was having a seizure. He was removed from life support two days later after, according to Stephen Wagner, the family鈥檚 Carmel attorney, Earl complained he couldn鈥檛 breathe as deputies sat on him until he stopped breathing and his face turned blue.
鈥淐ompounding 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,鈥� Williamson said of Wagner鈥檚 release, issued Tuesday.
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The Indiana State Police, Lowell Post has stepped in to investigate at Williamson鈥檚 request.
Law enforcement and Wagner, per their various statements about what happened, appear to agree on the basic points. Earl鈥檚 grandmother called 911 around 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 8 because Earl was having a severe seizure. Keener Township EMS and sheriff鈥檚 deputies responded to the scene.
As Earl was trying to put on shorts to go to the hospital, he lost his balance and fell on one of the officers who, according to Wagner, became aggressive and yelled at Earl, 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 treat law enforcement that way.鈥�
Officers took Earl to the ground and handcuffed him face down on the floor, Wagner said, and multiple officers remained on top of Earl while EMTs administered three rounds of sedatives. Some of the EMTs had responded earlier in the day to a different location when Earl had another, less severe seizure. Earl also had asthma.
鈥淥fficers stayed on top of Rhyker for more than 15 minutes, with his face in a pillow. During this time, Rhyker begged for his life and screamed that he couldn鈥檛 breathe. His pleas, and those of his aunt and grandmother, were ignored,鈥� Wagner said.
After more than 15 minutes, Earl went limp, according to Wagner. His aunt noticed Earl was blue in the face and pleaded with EMTs to do something. After 鈥渁n agonizing few minutes,鈥� Wagner said, they took Earl鈥檚 pulse and realized he was not breathing.
Williamson disputes Wagner鈥檚 contention that deputies sat on Earl for more than 15 minutes while his face was in a pillow.
Earl is seen forcefully banging his head on the floor in body-worn camera video, Williamson said, adding deputies asked the family for a pillow and placed it under his head to prevent Earl from injuring himself.
鈥淗is head was lying on the pillow; his breathing was not restricted,鈥� Williamson said in his statement.
Williamson added that the video 鈥渃learly shows鈥� deputies restraining Earl by his arms, legs and shoulders.
鈥淧er 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 鈥榬ecovery position,鈥欌�� Williamson said.
Williamson also denies that Earl鈥檚 pleas, and those of his aunt and grandmother, were ignored by the deputies at the house.
鈥楳r. 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,鈥� Williamson said.
The Indiana State Police are independently investigating the incident, Williamson added. 鈥淲e intend to release the body-worn camera video once the investigative agency has cleared us to do so.鈥�
The family also has retained national civil rights attorney Ben Crump in the matter.
漏2024 Post-Tribune (Merrillville, Ind.).
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