afrosomalibitch:‘This past New Year’s Day, Matthew Ojibade, 22, of Savannah, Georgia,
afrosomalibitch: ‘This past New Year’s Day, Matthew Ojibade, 22, 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. 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 [their attorney Mark] O’Mara. The Sheriff’s Office says Ojibade was checked on twice while isolated - the second found unresponsive. Efforts to resuscitate him failed. Ojibade 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 police said he found a way out of the vehicle and somehow produced a gun. The statement given by the police, that Ojibade “fought with deputies…and had to be restrained” is vague and raises more questions than answers. In November, the former chief of police in Savannah was convicted on federal charges of extortion, gambling, obstruction of justice, and other charges. (X) -- source link