Judge to rule on dismissing charges against Shreveport officers indicted for in-custody death
On Feb. 3, a judge will determine whether to dismiss charges against four Shreveport police officers indicted in the in-custody death of Tommie McGlothen Jr.
No trial date has been set for Brian Ross, James McClare, Treona McCarter and D'Marea Johnson.
There was a hearing Thursday at the Caddo Parish Courthouse. The former officers waived their rights to a jury trial in December.
In September, the four were indicted on charges of negligent homicide and malfeasance in office.
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McGlothen was beaten and tased by the four officers on April 5, 2020.
Defense lawyers acknowledge that police used a Taser and pepper spray on McGlothen and that they struck him with a baton.
McGlothen had three encounters with the police within a short time span on the day he died.
His relatives allege in a lawsuit field last year that McGlothen died in the custody of Shreveport police after spending 48 minutes in a patrol car unattended and without medical attention.
The suit faults police for failing to take into account that he was showing clear signs of a mental condition known as excited delirium syndrome.
2021: Shreveport police deny Tommie McGlothen Jr. was alone for 48 minutes before death
McGlothen's had been accused of assault and home invasion at the time of his arrest.
Defense filing states “any injuries suffered by Mr. McGlothen, including his death, are attributable to his own criminal conduct and/or negligent acts and omissions and to natural causes beyond the control of the officers he encountered."
The Caddo Coroner's Office found that McGlothen died of natural causes. However, they also described McGlothen's death as "possibly preventable," noting that he didn’t get immediate medical attention.
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Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport police accused in McGlothen death to have Feb. 3 hearing
