Indianapolis detective caught on video saying 'I think it's going to be a closed casket, homie' after officers shot and killed a 21-year-old man is suspended
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department suspended a detective whose remarks about the body of a man fatally shot by another officer sparked criticism, the police chief says.
The detective was captured on video after the shooting of Dreasjon 'Sean' Reed saying: 'I think it´s going to be a closed casket, homie,' an apparent reference to a closed-casket funeral.
Chief Randal Taylor, who has called the comments 'unacceptable,' said Wednesday that the man received a suspension of numerous days and has been reassigned to another unit, The Indianapolis Star reported. Taylor did not provide any additional information on the disciplinary action.
Dreasjon Reed also known as Sean Reed was fatally shot by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police on May 6, 2020 following a police pursuit on the city's northwest side. The incident was recorded on Facebook Live by Reed
Dreasjon 'Sean' Reed, 21, was shot dead while running from police as he streamed a video of the chase on Facebook Live on Wednesday afternoon
Events surrounding the shooting of Reed, a 21-year-old black man, were livestreamed on Facebook, apparently by Reed's cellphone.
Indianapolis police said in a statement that they cannot release the detective's name for safety reasons, but that the officer is African-American. The officer who fatally shot Reed is also African-American, The Indianapolis Star has reported.
The shooting on May 6 prompted multiple protests. Hours later, Indianapolis police officers fatally shot another black man, 19-year-old McHale Rose. In between those two shootings, an officer fatally struck a pregnant woman with his car. The woman was white.
Pictured: Ashlynn Lisby, 23, a single mother of three with a fourth baby on the way, was struck and killed by an Indianapolis police officer just hours after Reed's death
McHale Rose, 19, was shot and killed in the early morning hours on Thursday after police alleged he shot at officers while in the middle of a burglary
In this photo from Thursday last week, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor, center, listens to family of Dreasjon Reed during a protest on Michigan Road in Indianapolis
Police have said both Reed and Rose were armed and exchanged gunfire with officers.
Reed was fatally shot by an officer during a foot chase that followed a police vehicle pursuit. Police have said the pursuit began after officers, including Taylor, observed someone driving recklessly on Interstate 65,.
Local activist groups have demanded transparency and accountability as the shootings are investigated.
Earlier this week, Indianapolis chief of police denounced the detective's comment.
'Let me be clear, these comments are unacceptable and unbecoming of our police department,' Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor told reporters during a news conference Thursday.
'We'll be pursing immediate disciplinary action against that officer,' Taylor added, going to great lengths to assure the investigations into all of the deaths will be thorough and transparent.
'I hope you understand that I'm one that is willing to acknowledge that if we made mistakes here, we will address them,' he said.
'But let the investigation run its course before we jump to conclusions - either on our side or on the community's side.'
Meanwhile, on Friday, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears requested that an independent prosecutor take over the Reed case, citing Taylor's personal involvement in the high-speed chase, reported WISH-TV.
Chief Taylor and Deputy Chief Kendale Adams began pursuing Reed in their unmarked vehicles along Interstate 65 after noticing him speeding and driving recklessly.
Taylor and Adams quit the chase once marked patrol cars responded to the scene.
'He will undoubtedly be a material witness in this case,' Mears said of the chief.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett this afternoon tweeted out a statement, asking the the United States Attorney's Office and the FBI to 'actively monitor' the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
'While I continue to have confidence in Chief Randal Taylor and IMPD's ability to carry out fair and thorough investigations, it is clear to me that more must be done to provide community confidence in the outcome of those processes,' Hogsett stated.
'Through this monitoring, in conjunction with an ongoing investigation by the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, we reaffirm our commitment to a transparent criminal and civil review of these incidents and the conduct of those officers involved.
'Importantly, it is my hope that our city may also reaffirm its dedication to channeling the sadness and anger felt by so many into displays of peaceful protest.'
On Thursday, protesters crowded the streets of Indianapolis decrying the shootings of Reed and McHale Rose, 19, and the death of a pregnant woman, 23-year-old Ashlynn Lisby, who was struck by a police vehicle. Lisby's baby could not be saved.
Protesters listen during a rally outside of the City County Building in Indianapolis on Thursday
People march on Michigan Road before the vigil for Sean Reed in Indianapolis on Thursday
Community members gather for a vigil and protest over Reed's fatal shooting on Thursday
Lisby, who was white, was walking along an expressway ramp when an officer driving to work struck her with his vehicle.
According to her Facebook posts, Lisby was a single mother of three who worked for FedEx. She is survived by her young son and two daughters.
Protesters converged on the first shooting scene Wednesday night, and dozens more gathered Thursday at the City County Building in downtown Indianapolis.
Many wore face masks aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus and at times shouted, 'No justice, no peace.'
Several carried Black Lives Matter flags and signs.
Protests began after video of the events leading up to Reed's shooting appeared on Facebook.
Reggie Jones marches on Thursday while protesting the fatal shooting of Reed by Indianapolis police on Wednesday following a pursuit
People bow their heads for a moment of silence during the vigil for Reed in Indianapolis on Thursday
Reed's father, Jamie Reed, said he had seen the video and was 'crushed' by its contents.
'It just shows me that we´re not really being protected and served. We're being hunted,' he told reporters at Thursday's protest.
'My son was a great son. I love him to death. He was just a typical young adult like anybody else. He didn't deserve to die like that.'
In an interview with TMZ, Jamie Reed insisted that his son did not fire a gun at the police, claiming that the video showed Sean running with his T-shirt in one hand and his cellphone in the other.
The father also pointed out that police tasered his son first before using deadly force, arguing that if Sean was armed and pointing a gun at them, they would have shot him without deploying the Taser.
'I want justice,' the elder Reed demanded. 'I don't want my son to be no statistic.'
Relatives said Reed had recently left the United States Air Force.
Military records show he served less than a year in 2017. Details of separations cannot be released under privacy rules.
Protesters crowded the streets of Indianapolis on Thursday to voice concerns about police treatment after officers shot and killed two men, including Reed, and fatally struck a pregnant pedestrian in three separate incidents just hours apart
Deja Morse sits on the roof of a car during a community vigil and protest in Indianapolis on Thursday
As a car does a burnout, a man yells to police from the top of a car during the vigil and protest
Reed was fatally shot by Indianapolis police on Wednesday following a pursuit. The incident was livestreamed on Facebook
A protester holds a sign outside of the City County Building in Indianapolis on Thursday
The Greater Indianapolis branch of black activist group, the NAACP, said in a statement Thursday that it was monitoring information about the shootings.
'All of us are trying to make a new normal in an un-normal time. Incidents like these do not help restore normalcy to our community,' said Chrystal Ratcliffe, the president of the branch.
On Saturday, police fired pepper balls to disperse a crowd as they arrested a man during a protest against the department's actions.
About 50 people had converged near the site where, The Indianapolis Star reported.
Video from the scene shows an angry crowd gathered, yelling at officers as they are making an arrest.
One policeman can be seen firing a paintball-like rifle.
The officer was using a specialized air rifle that fires pepper balls, or non-lethal rounds that contain PAVA and CS irritant powder.
Several dozen protesters gathered at the intersection of 62nd Street and Michigan Road in Indianapolis on Saturday. A police officer fatally shot a 21-year-old African American man who livestreamed a high-speed chase just moments before
At the protest, one officer was seen firing a paintball-like rifle that contained pepper balls, or non-lethal rounds of pepper irritant used to disperse protests
As the officer aimed his pepper ball gun, other officers (right) were arresting a 41-year-old man for obstruction of traffic and disorderly conduct
A group of protesters is seen above getting on their knees and lifting their arms in the air on Saturday
Video from the scene shows several protesters angrily shout at officers as tempers flared090
Pepper balls are used by law enforcement and military for crowd dispersal and riot control.
'Look y'all,' Jalen Sanders, an Indianapolis resident who was at the protest, said in a livestream video on Facebook.
'They out here shooting us.'
Reed's killing has strained relations between the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and black residents, spurring a series of demonstrations.
As police were arresting a man during Saturday's protest, officers fired pepper balls 'to deter a crowd as they closed in on officers creating an unsafe environment for officers and protesters,' police spokesman Michael Hewitt said in a statement.
Hewitt said officers arrested a 41-year-old man on suspicion of obstruction of traffic and disorderly conduct.
'No officers or protesters were injured during this arrest. IMPD supports our citizens rights to peaceful and lawful protest,' Hewitt added.
Indianapolis detective caught on video saying 'I think it's going to be a closed casket, homie' after officers shot and killed a 21-year-old man is suspended
![Indianapolis detective caught on video saying 'I think it's going to be a closed casket, homie' after officers shot and killed a 21-year-old man is suspended]()
Reviewed by Your Destination
on
May 15, 2020
Rating:
No comments