Autopsy for man who family members say was 'hogtied" by police, indicates homicide as cause of death

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WEBVTT CITY. >> AN AUTOPSY FOUND THE DEATH OF MARCUS SMITH A HOMICIDE. HE DIED WHILE IN GREENSBORO POLICE CUSTODY IN SEPTEMBER. >> TODAY, A REPORT RELEASED BY THE STATE’S MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE REVEALS SEVERAL FACTORS IN HIS DEATH. >> BILL O’NEIL HAS BEEN LOOKING THROUGH THOSE DOCUMENTS SINCE THEY WERE RELEASED. BILL, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED? REPORTER: A COMBINATION OF POOR HEALTH, DRUGS, AND BEING HOGTIED AS WELL AS ALCOHOL ARE ALL CITED IN THE OFFICIAL AUTOPSY. -- AUTOPSY REPORT. THE REPORT CITES THE CAUSE OF DEATH AS SUDDEN CARDIOPULMONARY ARREST AND SAYS HIS HEART STOPPED BEATING BECAUSE OF PRONE RESTRAINT AS WELL AS THE PRESENCE OF THE DRUGS ECSTACY AND COCAINE AND ALCOHOL IN MR. SMITH’S SYSTEM. THE AUTOPSY ALSO CITES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND HARDENING AND NARROWING OF THE ARTERIES AS FACTORS. MR. SMITH WAS 38-YEARS-OLD AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. TWO WEEKS AGO, SMITH’S FAMILY HELD A NEW CONFERENCE WHERE THEY QUESTIONED HOW POLICE HANDLED THE INCIDENT AFTER WATCHING VIDEO CAPTURED BY OFFICERS’ BODY CAMERAS. THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS HAVE SCHEDULED A PUBLIC MEETING FOR MONDAY AT THE SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH TO DEMAND CITY LEADERS HOLD THE FOUR OFFICERS INVOLVED ACCOUNTABLE. THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR 6:30. MEANTIME TODAY, THEY CITY ISSUED A STATEMENT. "DUE TO THE MULTITUDE OF FACTORS THAT LED TO TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES FOR MR. SMITH", DETAILED IN THE AUTOPSY, "THE CITY OF GREENSBORO BELIEVES THERE IS A COMPELLING PUBLIC INTEREST TO SHARE THE VIDEO. THE FAMILY LIVES IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT TODAY. THEIR ATTORNEY TELLS US THAT THE FINDING OF HOMICIDE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POLICE ARE MISSING THE ATTORNEYS ARE WORKING ON A STATEMENT THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN AS YET. THEY CONDUCTED AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION ALREADY. THEY HAVE SINCE BEEN RETURNED TO DUTY. ANCHOR: TO READ THE FULL AUTOPSY REPORT OR FOR MORE INFORMATION SURROUNDING OUR COVERAGE OF THIS INVESTIGATION, HEAD ON OVER TO OU

Advertisement Autopsy for man who family members say was 'hogtied" by police, indicates homicide as cause of death Family members who have seen video say Marcus Smith was 'hogtied" by officers Share Shares Copy Link Copy

An autopsy report released Friday has classified the death of a man who died in custody of Greensboro police as a homicide.A Guilford County Superior Court Judge ruled that Police Chief Wayne Scott may release the body-worn camera footage of the Greensboro Police Department's involvement with Marcus Deon Smith on September 8.The compilation of the body-worn camera footage with narration from Chief Scott is available here: https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/police/gpd-cases/-fsiteid-1The remaining body-worn camera footage from all involved officers will be added to the website as it’s available. Greensboro City Council members have viewed the footage at this time.Greensboro police said on Sept. 8, 38-year-old Marcus Smith was disoriented, suicidal and walking in and out of traffic on North Church Street. Officers said while trying to transport him for a mental evaluation, he became combative and collapsed. They said he later died at the hospital.Smith's family members have been critical of the circumstances surrounding his death, stating they believe he was hogtied by police and those actions led to his death. They are also calling for the public release of body camera video.“The officers took Mr. Smith to the ground, put him on his belly and handcuffed him behind his back, and one officer grabbed both his feet, pushed his feet up to the point that his ankles met his hands and they tied his hands to his feet,” Graham Holt, a family attorney, said.The autopsy states Smith died of sudden cardiopulmonary arrest due to prone restraint, n-ethylpentalone, cocaine and alcohol use, hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The report also indicated Smith had blunt-force injuries, including minor abrasions to his head, back and legs, and small subcutaneous hemorrhages on his back and wrists.Click here to see the full autopsy report. Earlier this month, family members held a press conference with Greensboro faith leaders disputing the department's claims. The family attorney and another family member viewed the video and said it shows a different story.The city of Greensboro responded to the family with the following statement:•Per Greensboro Police Department policy, the State Bureau of Investigation was contacted to conduct an independent investigation.•The Guilford County District Attorney’s office forwarded a letter to the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) indicating, based on the information collected by the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), pending its final report, there was no criminal liability with the police actions concerning this incident. The district attorney’s office states the officers acted at all times within the scope of their duties and with justification under all applicable laws.•The SBI final report is not complete, but the position of the district attorney’s office is there is sufficient evidence to support its decision related to the officers’ actions.•A GPD internal review was completed and no violations of policy were found.The loss of any member of the community is unfortunate. The City of Greensboro has a process for residents to bring concerns to the Greensboro Criminal Justice Advisory Commission. The commission is tasked with reviewing criminal justice issues and working closely with the Greensboro Police Department.The City continues to review the initial findings of the Medical Examiner’s report. Chief Scott has elected to modify the application of the RIPP Hobble device used to restrain individuals, while police continue to review the use of this method of restraint.