Civil rights attorney Ben Crump provided the Clarion Ledger with autopsy results for Kadarius Smith, who died in March after being allegedly run over by a Leland Police Department cruiser. The autopsy, performed by forensic pathologist Erin Barnhart, revealed Smith's death was due to blunt-force trauma, including "massive blunt head trauma" and multiple fractures. Crump and co-counsel Van Turner stated, "These autopsy findings document the cruel and tragic way that Kadarius left us — with his head crushed under the immense weight of a police cruiser."
Smith's mother, Kaychia Calvert, claimed her son was run over from behind, evidenced by tire tracks on his back. The police report, however, provided a different account, suggesting Smith was armed and ran from officers before being struck by the cruiser. The report mentioned officers responding to a call about suspects with handguns, with Smith running from the scene and eventually being hit by the police vehicle after the officer couldn't stop in time.
There is no dashcam or body cam footage of the incident, as confirmed by City Attorney Josh Bogen, who stated, "The Leland PD officers aren't required to wear body cams nor have our patrol cars been required to do so." Crump emphasized the importance of such technology, saying, "Kadarius' death exemplifies the paramount importance of body cameras for every single officer on duty and dash cameras for every single police-issued vehicle patrolling our communities."
Crump continues to advocate for accountability and transparency, noting the police report's inconsistencies and the lack of evidence supporting the presence of a handgun. He asserts, "This child was run over by the police and lost his life — that is what we know for sure."
Link: Clarion Ledger
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