Lashano Gilbert (Photos from Facebook)
THE FAMILY of Bahamian medical school graduate Lashano Gilbert, who died in police custody in Connecticut in 2014, has reached an undisclosed settlement over their $54 million federal civil rights lawsuit.
Gilbert’s aunt, Albertha Fletcher, and his mother, Donna Smith accused New London police officers of excessive force in the death of the 31-year-old man, and also named the attending hospital and emergency room physician as defendants in the lawsuit filed in 2016.
The state’s city council was expected to hold a closed door meeting to discuss and vote on the settlement last night.
Gilbert, who grew up in The Bahamas, is said to have graduated from a medical school in Cuba and was fluent in multiple languages. He was in the process of upgrading his medical licence in Canada. He was in New London to visit his aunt, Ms Fletcher, while travelling from Toronto to the Bahamas. On the evening of October 3, 2014, he jumped into a woman’s car, talked “gibberish” and assaulted her, authorities said.
He died on October 4, 2014 after a violent struggle with police officers – who arrested him for an attempted carjacking and assault – and reportedly used a taser and pepper spray as they attempted to restrain him in two separate instances. A towel was wrapped over his face at one point to keep him from biting officers, according to reports.
Gilbert became unresponsive and died in an ambulance taking him to a hospital from the police station. Several officers suffered minor injuries, according to reports.
Chief Medical Examiner James Gill determined Gilbert’s death was caused by complications from a sickle cell condition that was aggravated by his struggle with police. Mr Gill found no trauma or injury that would have caused his death.
Mr Gill ruled the death a homicide; however, the state’s attorney Michael Regan ruled that police officers were justified in using force to subdue him.
According to Connecticut news site, The Day, the settlement comes as trial preparations were underway.
According to the report, US District Judge Michael P Shea removed the hospital, the city and several officers from the suit in a summary judgment on Sept 25, 2018.
However, the article continued, the district judge ruled questions remained about claims of excessive use of force against four officers when Gilbert was being restrained at police headquarters.
The remaining four officers named in the suit are Richard Cable, Wayne Neff, Chris White and Christopher Bunkley.
Comments
joeblow 5 years, 3 months ago
So he died from complications caused by his sickle cell, triggered by his struggle with police after he was not properly subdued after use of a taser and pepper spray which was needed because he resisted arrest because of an attempted carjacking and assault and his family is probably going to be paid? What a world!
Sickened 5 years, 3 months ago
Those police were too nice. What he need was a billy club to the head instead of trying to tackle him.
newgirl 5 years, 3 months ago
Obviously the young man was mentally disturbed for whatever reason and the police are not trained in how to deal with mentally disturbed people. From the time he started speaking gibberish that was clear. Young men are killed by police in the U.S. regularly for much less. Notice the number of white officers, of course there was excessive force.
Sickened 5 years, 3 months ago
Is the lack of black officers because of a lack of education (i.e. unable to pass the tests) or a lack of wanting to serve in that sort of civic capacity?
geostorm 5 years, 3 months ago
Wow, what a tragedy! Sorry that he died but goodness, he was really violent. Like the police in Nassau love to say every time someone is killed by them : "officers acting in fear of their lives, discharged their weapon"; well in this case, officers acting in fear of their lives discharged their taser. Unbelievable that his family will get money from this. Clearly the young man is at fault. Can't blame the officers for trying to subdue him and protect themselves! Happy that there were cameras because this story probably would have taken another turn......police brutality.
stoner 5 years, 3 months ago
Personally, he got everything that was coming to him and more.He was just trowing things around and trying to kill or injure the officers.People with Sickle cell condition don't act like that. He committed a crime prior to that and was arrested.Personally, I would like to have him as my medical advisor or even near me at any time.The officers did a super job to subdue him and getting him under control.
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