Family demands murder charges after Ohio man dies following jail restraint incident
Christian Black, a 25-year-old Ohio man, died two days after being restrained by deputies at Montgomery County Jail, prompting his family to call for murder charges against the jail employees involved. Video footage shows Black in a crisis state, being restrained by at least 10 officers who used stun guns and placed him in a safety restraint chair, where he eventually lost consciousness. Despite his family stating he had no mental health issues, Black's death was ruled a homicide due to 'mechanical and positional asphyxia.' The Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association defended the officers, claiming their actions were in line with training to prevent self-harm. While the sheriff expressed condolences and promised cooperation with investigations, the family is considering civil litigation and demands accountability and justice for Black's death.
Context:
Christian Black, a 25-year-old Ohio man, died two days after being restrained by deputies at Montgomery County Jail, prompting his family to call for murder charges against the jail employees involved. Video footage shows Black in a crisis state, being restrained by at least 10 officers who used stun guns and placed him in a safety restraint chair, where he eventually lost consciousness. Despite his family stating he had no mental health issues, Black's death was ruled a homicide due to 'mechanical and positional asphyxia.' The Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association defended the officers, claiming their actions were in line with training to prevent self-harm. While the sheriff expressed condolences and promised cooperation with investigations, the family is considering civil litigation and demands accountability and justice for Black's death.
Dive Deeper:
Christian Black was arrested and taken to Montgomery County Jail for an alleged carjacking incident, where he appeared to experience a crisis and was forcibly restrained by jail officers. Despite his family's assertions of no prior mental health issues, footage shows him agitated and resisting officers' attempts to subdue him.
The restraining process involved at least 10 jail employees using stun guns and placing Black in a safety restraint chair designed to prevent harm to inmates and staff. During the restraint, Black appeared to be gagging and eventually lost consciousness, as observed in video footage.
A nurse checking on Black expressed concern over the absence of a heartbeat, which led to CPR attempts by officers, but Black was later pronounced dead at Miami Valley Hospital. Preliminary coroner's findings indicated his death was caused by 'mechanical and positional asphyxia,' leading to its classification as a homicide.
The Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association defended the officers' actions, emphasizing that their restraint methods were consistent with their training and necessary due to Black's size and strength. They asserted that the officers aimed to prevent Black from self-harm while maintaining control over his movements.
In response to the incident, the 10 involved employees have been placed on paid administrative leave as investigations continue. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office pledged full cooperation with independent investigations and promised internal reviews post-investigation to ensure accountability.
The Black family, mourning the loss of a son described as a 'gentle giant,' is calling for the sheriff's resignation and exploring civil litigation options. They appreciate the sheriff's condolences but insist on addressing the alleged misconduct of the officers involved in the incident.
The Dayton police homicide unit is actively investigating the case and will present their findings to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, potentially leading to further legal proceedings against those involved in Black's death.