(WWJ) Police in Michigan's capital city are being sued by the family of a man who died while being restrained facedown in custody last spring.
The family of Anthony Hulon filed a federal wrongful lawsuit Monday against the City of Lansing and the officers responsible for using “excessive force” and “permitting collusive statements by involved officers.”
Attorneys say the 54-year-old died April 11 after he was handcuffed behind his back and pinned on the ground facedown by Lansing police officers in a jail cell after being transported from the hospital to the Lansing jail.
Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Lansing Police
Hulon, who was arrested for simple domestic assault, had his ankles shackled and was forcefully held down by three officers.
According to the 30-page civil lawsuit, Gary Worden, Charles Wright and Trevor Allman were captured on video pinning an unarmed Hulon to the ground on his stomach and chest, "compressing his lungs and restricting his ability to breathe for over five minutes, even as the man moaned in agony, repeatedly saying 'I can’t breathe'."
Hulon suffered cardiac arrest and anoxic brain injury, according to medical records. The Ingham County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of death as positional asphyxia and the manner of death as homicide.
“This isn’t the first time this has happened in the Lansing City Jail, in the same cell nonetheless,” said Buckfire Law trial attorney Jennifer Damico, who is representing Hulon’s family
“This department knows better, and knows about the risks associated with positional asphyxia. It shows that this department turned a blind eye to the rights of citizens and has learned nothing from prior incidents.”
The lawsuit comes nearly five months after the death of George Floyd, whose death in police custody sparked massive protests against police brutality. Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was videotaped kneeling on the handcuffed Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes as the man repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.”
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“It’s tragic that we continue to see more and more instances of police brutality,” Damico said. “This department, once and for all, needs to be held accountable.”
Lansing police and city officials have declined to comment on the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages.
Michigan State Police investigated Hulon's death and sent a report to the attorney general's office. The investigation remains open.