On May 6, 2020, William Jeannette, a 48 year old white man “detoxing” in Marshall County Jail was murdered by corrections officers.
When Lewisburg Police Officer Christopher Stallings ran into the room, Jennette yelled that corrections officers were trying to kill him.
Officers wrestled Jennette to the floor where he died minutes later.
They were trying to move him to a restraint chair after a second day of self-injurious behavior, and he resisted. He was in handcuffs.
Jennette screamed for officers to get off his back. He was face down on the floor in handcuffs continuing to struggle.
"Go get leg restraints before you do anything else, go get leg restraints," an officer said as officers were on Jennette's back.
Seconds later, Jennette said for the first time he could not breathe.
But a female officer was not sympathetic.
"You shouldn't be able to breathe, you stupid b*****d," she exclaimed.
Still handcuffed. At least four officers on him. Because he was resisting being restrained.
"Easy, easy -- remember asphyxiation, guys."
Another officer responded, "That's why I'm not on his lungs, to let him breathe."
Jennette's last words were: "I'm good."
But an officer with his knee on Jennette's back talked back to him.
"No, you ain't good. You're going to lay right there for a f*****g minute," the officer said.
His last words were, “I’m good.” No, you ain’t good.
According to a former police officer interviewed for the story, there was about a four minute period of time in which force continued to be applied when it shouldn’t. The cause of death was listed as “acute combined drug intoxication,” but listed asphyxia as contributory cause of death and ruled the death a homicide...and yet, a Tennessee grand jury reviewing the case declined to press charges.
Also, from the death certificate, when EMS arrived at the scene, the officers were administering CPR and had an AED in place...but the handcuffs were still on him. He died, handcuffed, on the floor of a jail, being teased and taunted by police, because he had the nerve to resist.
And yet again, it’s only an issue because there’s video.