Do I think the police might have screwed up?
Yes.
Do I think the family member might not be telling the entire story?
Yes.
This is why I am a firm proponent of public servants (not just the law enforcement, all of them) being required to have all public interactions be recorded.
I think they ARE required to have their body cameras on. They just turn them off, and there is RARELY any repercussions. That’s why they continue to do it. Then they wonder why they get little respect from the public.