Posted on 05/01/2009 4:20:05 AM PDT by BnBlFlag
Lumberton police accused of beating man to death (Texas)
By BLAIR DEDRICK ORTMANN April, 30, 2009
The FBI has opened a civil rights investigation into the death of a man whose family alleges he died because Lumberton police officers beat him.
FBI spokeswoman Shauna Dunlap confirmed the investigation Thursday by phone, but cautioned that opening a case does not mean there was wrong-doing.
``One of the reasons we do confirm these types of investigations is so the community has extra reassurance,'' Dunlap said.
The family of Kevin Jibreel LaDay, 35, alleges that officers beat him to death after his car ran into a ditch in Lumberton.
``They beat my child,'' said Kevin's mother, Sandra LaDay of Port Arthur.Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins said by phone Thursday that he ``strongly denies'' that allegation.
``He was not beaten, I'll tell you that right now,'' Sullins said. ``I can tell you that did not occur.''
LaDay was driving in Lumberton when his car ended up in a ditch on the side of Pine Burr.
Police got a call about the car about 3:30 a.m., according to a news release from Sullins.
When two Lumberton officers arrived, they saw LaDay walking from behind the nearby DuPont Goodrich Credit Union.
According to Sullins' release, LaDay ran from the officers.
The officers caught LaDay, and he began to fight them, Sullins said. Officers were able to ``gain control'' of LaDay after a ``lengthy altercation,'' according to Sullins release.
The officers called EMS to the scene and LaDay was transported to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Two Hardin County Sheriff's deputies were also on the scene after responding to an ``officer in distress'' call, said Sheriff Ed Cain by phone.
``It's not my belief that anyone beat anyone,'' he said.
An autopsy has been ordered.
Sandra LaDay has a different set of facts.
She said her son, who had been living with a sister in Beaumont, called her at 3:47 a.m. to tell her the older model Geo was in the ditch. He had been visiting a friend in Lumberton.
While she was on the phone with him, the police drove up, she said.
``All of a sudden, he said, `don't do that, don't do that,''' LaDay said by phone. ``I said, `who you talking to, baby?' And then the phone just went silent.' ''
LaDay believes that the officers beat Kevin LaDay, causing his death. She has hired onetime Rodney King lawyer Milton Grimes of Los Angeles to represent the family in the lawsuit she plans to file.
LaDay said she also has contacted the Blank Panthers, which plans a march in Lumberton on Monday; Al Sharpton; President Barack Obama's administration and the FBI.
The family plans to have a second autopsy done.
``I've been doing the necessary things,'' LaDay said. ``I won't let it go down like this.''
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Most recent comments DEDUCT wrote: First an foremost, my best friend is a redneck,his kids call me uncle,I work in correction for the Great state of Texas, An at 6/2 I fear no man, but your right that 3:00am in morning is a standout, some of my friend are in lawenforcement, but we all know cops will whip you if you cross them, but i will wait for the autopsy,plus the FBI will get to bottem of this,Lumberton is a nice town 05/01/2009 05:06 AM CDT Log in to report abuse. Report abuse
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riverbottom88 wrote: OH and for your information I am a very proud redneck , who is educated, provides for my family and don't run the roads at 3:00 in the morning turning tricks or slingin dope 05/01/2009 04:13 AM CDT Log in to report abuse. Report abuse
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riverbottom88 wrote: You black ignorant sorry pathetic family! I might have a little sympathy for you , but to call every RACIST black group you can can get your greedy hands on is pitiful. so your son was probably delivering dope which makes him a PIECE OF SH... "N"..... !!! I dont care for the KKK but bring an uproar to our town and i might look em up 05/01/2009 04:09 AM CDT Log in to report abuse. Report abuse
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Calling in the Black Panthers will sooth the situation. This seems tailor made for Al Sharpton, wont be long before he is there too.
The next question is why would someone drive into the ditch at 3am? I can offer one suggestion............
Blackula Returns...
He could have been picking up beer cans to support his mother; just sayin'.
I think she has already contacted Sharpton. Quanell X is supposed to be there Monday with his “Black Panthers”. The last time he pulled a stunt like this was when he tried to “march” on Joe Horn’s house in Pasadena. About 500 Horn supporters met him on the street and ran his sorry ass out of town. He’ll think Pasadena was a picnic if he makes to Lumberton.
I doubt the guy just dropped dead.
Still , she has Rodney King’s lawyers, the black panthers, she has called Obama,Al Sharpton, she has gone the black race card route.
In my mind the guy was probably DWI, got mouthy and the cops took him down, that part seems evident,that is their job. How much force did they use, black jacks, tasers,?? That has to be solved by evidentiary use, hopefully without further violence.
$$$
‘zactly.
This is what’s happening in the once fairly racially harmonious East Texas.
To be fair, Lumberton was once a “sundown town” but since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita a few Blacks have lived there and as far as I know have had few, if any, problems.
Rev. Al will get a lesson in manners if he pisses off a bunch of East Texas Rednecks. They are liable to take him over to Sabine River for a little “gator trolling”....red
My father once said to me, “Son, NUTHIN’ good ever happens after midnight!” Best be believein’ that!”
From other news stories about the event:
“A check of public records indicates Kevin LaDay had been arrested several times, including arrests on drug charges as well as Evading Arrest or Detention in 1993 and Obstruction or Retaliation in 1997. He pleaded no contest to both charges and received probation.”
“Chief Sullins says after the two officers used a Taser on LaDay and two sheriff’s deputies arrived to help, they were able to handcuff the 6’2”, 250 pound man.”
“But LaDay’s father says he saw his son’s body at the hospital and claims there was evidence he had been beaten. “His face was swollen,” said Willie LaDay. “I know when a man has been beaten up. He was a big man.” LaDay’s family doesn’t deny he has a long history of drug related offenses. “He would not run from the police,” said Keisha LaDay Wooten, Kevin LaDay’s sister. “He has been to jail before and he knows to just sit there and be handcuffed and not fight back.”
Doesn’t seem to me they want the truth.
They just want $$$.
arrests on drug charges as well as Evading Arrest
Liar!
It really pisses me off when career criminals end up dead, and the families scream racism. Every time you read of "black outrage" because of excessive force or death of a family member, the person ALWAYS has a rap sheet a mile long. Call me heartless, but I really don't care when lifetime criminals die.
I never had any problems.
Around here in Nashville, most whites youth folks would have called rednecks 30 years ago are today full blown wiggahs.
It's an epidemic here.
Rich boys= meterosexuals hellbent for lib education smothered by chinny mom and wuss dad
White trash boys= wiggahs whose sisters have serial illegitimate black kids....these folks are now indistinguishable from black trash except by skin color
Country boys= mixed review....some a Jason Aldean wannabes, others are wiggahs too.
sad state of affairs here in TN.
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