From r/acab:

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

September 16, 2024

On September 8, 2024, 26-year-old Rhyker Earl experienced a medical emergency around 8:30 PM. He underwent a severe seizure at home in Demotte, Indiana. His grandmother called 911 for emergency assistance. EMTs from Keener Township Emergency Medical Services and officers from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office responded. While they were on scene, Rhyker was in a postictal state, trying to recover from his seizure. He was confused and agitated, typical symptoms for someone who had just suffered a severe seizure. As Rhyker was trying to put on shorts to go to the hospital for medical attention, he lost his balance and fell into an officer. At that time officers became aggressive, yelling, “you don’t treat law enforcement that way.” Officers took Rhyker to the ground and handcuffed him face down on the floor. Multiple officers then remained on top of Rhyker while EMTs administered three separate doses of sedatives. Some of the EMTs on scene had responded earlier in the day to a different location when Rhyker had another, less severe seizure. They knew he was undergoing a medical emergency, and they also knew he had asthma. Officers 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’t breathe. His pleas, and those of his aunt and grandmother, were ignored. After more than 15 minutes, Rhyker went limp. His aunt noticed that Rhyker was blue in the face and pleaded with EMTs to do something. After an agonizing few minutes, they finally took Rhyker’s pulse and realized he was not breathing. Rhyker was taken to the hospital, but it was too late. After tests confirmed Rhyker had no brain activity, life support measures were terminated on September 10th.

National civil rights attorney Ben Crump, along with Indiana attorney Stephen Wagner, have been retained by Rhyker’s family to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. At this early stage there are still many unanswered questions. Why was Rhyker treated like a criminal, not a patient? Why did officers ignore the obvious risks of prone restraint? Why did they ignore his pleas that he could not breathe? The family’s attorneys intend to fully investigate this matter and hold all those responsible for Rhyker’s needless death accountable.

During this difficult time, Rhyker’s family would like to thank all those who have expressed their condolences on the tragic loss of a young father who was loved by many, especially those who attended the candlelight vigil for Rhyker last evening.

Until their investigation is complete, the family and their attorneys will have no further comment.

Stephen M. Wagner WAGNER REESE, LLP 11939 North Meridian Street Carmel, IN 46032 Email: SWagner@WagnerReese.com Mobile: (317) 431-6966
One of the Attorneys for the Family of Rhyker Brian Earl

    • Dudewitbow@lemmy.zipEnglish
      16·
      2 months ago

      the idea is that cops are already more spread out, so if very basic levels of CPR or first aid is necessary, they could provide it as a first tier of a support.

      • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldEnglish
        42·
        2 months ago

        At this point I think I’d take my chances. More likely to die if an officer is on scene in this country now.

      • IAmLamp@fedia.io
        18·
        2 months ago

        I just shot coffee out of my nose while reading this. The thought of a cop actually showing up with the intent to SAVE A LIFE seems so far fetched that it would be ideal material for an episode of the Twilight Zone at this point. But, yeah, I suppose the official reason for deploying cops to the scene probably wouldn’t be well received if they said, “in case someone (or someone’s dog) needs to be murdered.”

      • Cethin@lemmy.zipEnglish
        10·
        2 months ago

        This is the idea, but it isn’t a good idea. Police are given so many jobs, but are only really trained and capable of a few. We should be taking tasks off the plate of police (which they would agree they have too many) and giving them to other groups. This should mean moving funding from police to other response units, otherwise referred to as “defunding the police,” but that sounds bad so I guess we can’t do that.

    • cynar@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14·
      2 months ago

      devil’s advocate, it does have some logic to it.

      • An ambiguous report of an unconscious person could be the result of a crime/attack. Having the police turn up quickly helps with that significantly.

      • As others have said, the police could have been faster to respond.

      • Some people, when coming out of a fit, etc, can be aggressive. E.g. A friend is, apparently a “puncher” when she comes out of a general anaesthetic. She makes it a point to warn the nursing team, when possible. She’s still given out a few black eyes. Having police respond makes sense. They are, supposedly, trained in safe handling of an aggressive person. This makes them ideal for containing someone till their brain reboots, and stops panicking.

      Unfortunately, it sounds like the officers here forgot their duties and training. I’m often horrified to hear how american police tend to operate. It’s the sort of thing you don’t see much of in most developed countries.

      • NABDad@lemmy.worldEnglish
        30·
        2 months ago

        Unfortunately, it sounds like the officers here forgot their duties and training

        Unfortunately, you got that wrong. This is exactly what police in America are trained to do.

    • HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      Not everywhere is safe for EMTs alone. In some jurisdictions it’s standard procedure to have police show up along with the EMTs on every call.

  • thebestaquaman@lemmy.worldEnglish
    16·
    2 months ago

    What makes me feel most sick when something like this happens is the thought of how it must feel to be one of the family members on scene watching that happen. I can’t imagine how it would feel to watch powerlessly while someone you love is slowly murdered. I honestly can’t see myself doing anything other than at some point throwing myself at the officers and likely getting myself killed in the process… just thinking about how it would feel to be pleading with someone to stop squeezing the life out of a loved one like that just makes me sick.

    • KinglyWeevil@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      10·
      2 months ago

      My thought is that it should be legal to use force to save a life in these circumstances…but this is the US. It’ll just end with everyone in the house shot.