Savannah man, 22-year-old Matthew Ojibade, dies in restraining chair while in police custody

[KamaAina]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/07/1356072/-Savannah-man-22-year-old-Matthew-Ojibade-dies-in-restraining-chair-while-in-police-custody

On this past New Year's Day, 22-year-old Matthew Ojibade of Savannah, Georgia, suffered a manic episode resulting from his ongoing struggles with bipolar disorder. His girlfriend called police to help intervene and take him to the hospital. When they arrived, she gave the police his prescription medication, which was noted in the police report, and requested again that he be taken to the hospital....

Ojibade was taken to the Chatham County Detention Center that evening. According to the Sheriff's Office, he fought with deputies during booking - injured several - and had to be restrained. “My understanding was because of his behavior, he was put into a restraining chair and that's a tool that law enforcement uses - and they're allowed to use - and even in occasions supposed to use,” says [CNN analyst and former attorney for George Zimmerman] Mark O'Mara.

The Sheriff's Office says Ojibade was checked on twice while isolated - the second found unresponsive. Efforts to resuscitate him failed. ... O'Mara says the Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted an autopsy today. The Sheriff's Department already announced the GBI is investigating the case. O'Mara believes video surveillance from the jail will help in determining what happened....

Unfortunately, in the past few months, Matthew is not the first man to die in Savannah police custody. Charles Smith, handcuffed and in the back of a police car, was shot and killed by an officer this past September after they said he found a way out of the vehicle and somehow produced a gun.

[Mnemosyne]

1. Heartbreakng, over and over. K&R for more visibility. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. In November, the former Chief of Police in Savannah was convicted on federal charges of extortion,

says the article.

There should be a Grand Jury held for every death in police custody, via a Special Prosecutor.

[dawg]

3. Never call the police on your mentally ill friend or family member ...

unless you are prepared for them to be killed.

There are situations where you *must* have help and it's either call the police or potentially lose your own life. In those cases, you make the call.

If it's less than that, don't do it.