Darryl Williams' family urges Department of Justice to investigate Raleigh Police Department
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The family of Darryl Williams held a news conference Friday to urge the Department of Justice to investigate the Raleigh Police Department for misconduct.
There were renewed calls for justice inside Mount Peace Baptist Church. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, stood with local activists and the mother of Darryl Williams and called for Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman to conduct a thorough investigation.
"Her analysis of whether criminal charges are warranted in this case cannot be in at the time the tasers were deployed. Her investigation has to begin at the beginning.," said Dawn Blagrove with Emancipate NC.
Blagrove held a closed-door meeting with Freeman on Friday morning.
"I left with the initial impression that she had already concluded that the initial interaction was lawful," she said.
WATCH: Full news conference
The autopsy report hasn't been released. The district's attorney office said it could take another four to six weeks.
"If there is a belief by the police department that these officers did nothing wrong, let's hear it. Show the courage to step up and say what happened that night," said Attorney Ken Abbarno.
Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump said Williams had a heart condition and that he was troubled that officers didn't listen to him. He stated that the Black community's pain often falls on deaf ears.
"I don't know how you don't consider the criminal negligence when a man tells you he has a heart condition. You taze him multiple times. Where is the humanity?" questioned Crump.
Emancipate NC filed a 12-page report to the Department of Justice calling for an investigation into the patterns and practices of the Raleigh Police Department. The report accuses RPD of using excessive force, disregarding policies without consequence, racial profiling and spreading victim-blaming propaganda after officer-involved shootings.
"My message to Congress is simply this: How many more videos in America do we have to show you before you say we have a pattern and practice of excessive use of force against marginalized people of color?" Crump said.
Williams died in January when Raleigh police officers tried to arrest him for suspected drug possession. Williams resisted arrest and was tased as he tried to break away,
Police pursued him, eventually discharging multiple stun gun charges to incapacitate him. While being hit with the stun gun, Williams told officers that he had a health condition. Shortly thereafter, he went unconscious and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital. He did not survive.
Williams' mother said her son would still be alive if it weren't for Raleigh police officers. Those officers were placed on administrative leave, but the Williams family wants them to be relieved of duty.
