PATERSON, N.J. (1010 WINS) – A Paterson man who posted an erratic video from police headquarters in which he begged officers for water -- and then died two days later -- was at the center of a chaotic rally Tuesday in which protesters ended up getting maced by police.
The rally for 27-year-old Jameek Lowery spun out of control Tuesday night as about 200 protesters descended on City Hall chanting "black lives matter" and "f--- the police."
Police say they had no choice but to mace the crowd as they swarmed city hall. Video shows the protesters surrounding police and chanting at them.
The family and friends of Lowery are demanding answers, including why he wasn't given water and other help from cops at police headquarters Saturday morning.
Jamir King, Lowery's brother, was among those rallying.
"We want to know all the officers' names that was in the video," he shouted. "We want to know how did he get all these bruises if he wasn't beaten. Where did they come from? Where was the EMTs; officers' names; we want to know everything."
The father of three died 48 hours after showing up at police headquarters. He had called police earlier Saturday, claiming he had taken ecstasy and was paranoid.
A sweaty and barefoot Lowery recorded himself begging for water at the headquarters in a frantic Facebook live video.
"Somebody over there tried to kill me. Please don't kill me, officers. Please don't kill me. Ma, I love you, ma," he says at one point in the video as officers watch on.
When Lowery told them he was dehydrated and needed water, the officers told him they were not allowed to give him some, but someone is heard telling him, "The hospital has water."
All the focus now is on what happened to him while in police custody on his way to a hospital.
The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office says "police used physical force and compliance to secure Mr. Lowery in the ambulance."
Prosecutors say there was no acute trauma to Lowery and that the transportation from headquarters to the hospital took 5 to 12 minutes.
By the time Lowery arrived at the hospital he was unresponsive. He died Monday.
Three officers in the video have been placed on administrative leave.
Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale tells 1010 WINS he too wants to know what happened to Lowery and that he supports an investigation independent of the Paterson police department.
"Look, someone lost a loved one. As a father, I understand that people want answers. We all want answers. And once we have those answers, we will then deal with the situation at hand."
Speziale says the cause of Lowery's death is expected to be released by the prosecutor's office Wednesday.
