Handsome 22 year old Nigerian college student and artist Matthew Ajibade, was found dead in restraints in an isolation cell after he was booked into a county jail in Georgia on January 1st. Ajibade had been arrested on domestic violence charges following a fight with his girlfriend.
Police said they were called to a home and when they arrived, they saw Ajibade holding his girlfriend down under a blanket and refused to release her. They claim the girl had bruises on her face and her nose was bleeding and when they tried to arrest Ajibade, he became combative and had to restrained. His family lawyer has since said Ajibade was bipolar. The update now is that 9 police officers have been fired in connection with his death.
The sheriff released no findings from the investigations into Ajibade's death, which is still considered an open case as prosecutors weigh possible criminal charges. However, the sheriff's office did provide a February 9 memo reminding deputies that they were prohibited from using stun guns on detainees already in restraints.
'Do not utilize any conducted electrical weapon to gain control of a detainee who is in full restraints while in a restraint chair,' the memo said, noting that detainees with both their hands and feet bound were to be considered fully restrained.
Sheriff's officials have previously said Ajibade was placed in a restraining chair in an isolation cell after he became combative during booking and injured three deputies. One deputy suffered a concussion and a broken nose, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities have declined to publicly release the report on Ajibade's autopsy, citing the open investigation.
The fired deputies include two supervisors — Cpl. Maxine Evans and Cpl. Jason Kenny — who were suspended after Ajibade died. The Associated Press could not find a phone number for either deputy Friday evening.
The police officers fired belowThe sheriff deeply regrets the death of Mr. Ajibade,' said a statement released by the sheriff's office Friday. It said new policies implemented since Ajibade's death include security measures to audit the use of stun guns at the jail as well as booking procedures to ensure jail medical staff are notified immediately when a detainee requiring medication arrives.
Fired: Chatham County Sheriff Al St. Lawrence fired (from left to right) Frederick Burke, Jason Kenny, and Maxine Evans (below). Kenny and Evans were both supervisors
Also fired were (from left to right) Eric Vinson, Christopher Reed, and Burt Ambrose (below)
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