(WWJ) More than a decade after a Ferndale man died after being maced and restrained by guards at the former Northland Mall in Southfield, three people are on trial.
John Seiberling, Gaven King and Aaron Maree -- formerly private security guards -- each face one count of involuntary manslaughter, in connection with the 2014 death of MacKenzie Cochran.
Another guard charged, Lucius Hamilton, already pleaded guilty; and a fifth guard involved in the incident died in 2017.
On Jan. 28, 2014, authorities said Cochran, 25, was reported to be acting suspiciously in the mall before he allegedly told the owner of a jewelry store that he "wanted to kill someone."
Two security guards responded to the store owner's call for help.
Officials said Cochran approached the guards with clenched fists. One guard maced Cochran, then both tried to force him to the ground. Three additional guards arrived and joined in trying to handcuff Cochran.
According to the Michigan Attorney General's Office, video evidence shows that Cochran remained facedown with his arms under his body while the five security guards restrained him.
WWJ's Charlie Langton reports that the guard's allegedly held Cochran to the ground for 11 minutes, although he told them that he could not breathe. Cochran was pronounced dead a short time later at a local hospital, with the cause of death found to be asphyxiation.
While prosecutors at the time did not think there was enough evidence to press charges, the AG's office brought a case against the guard nearly ten years later, in 2023.
The jury was seated on Monday, and the trial began with opening statements followed by testimony by paramedics.
Each man charged faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
