SCLC Protest Taser-Killing of Derrick Humbert

The powers-that-be in Bradenton want us to believe that 38-year old Derrick Humbert's death was 'accidental'. One moment Humbert is riding his bicycle home from a trip to the neighborhood store. The next moment he is pounced on by two undercover police officers in an unmarked car ... they chase him ... taser him with 50,000 volts of electricity ... and he dies. Where is the accident in this scenario?

That is one of the questions raised by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during their weekend march in downtown Bradenton to protest the Taser death of Humbert and to raise awareness of the Bradenton Police Department's "quality of life" policies.

The chairman of the SCLC Florida chapter, Arthur Rocker, met with Police Chief Michael Radzilowski to discuss Humbert's death.

"The chief of police says it's 'quality of life.' He stops people for small crimes so they don't commit bigger crimes, such as riding a bicycle without lights or walking on the wrong side of the road," Rocker said.

"We talked with him yesterday and asked, 'If a person in one of these communities was wearing a suit, would he be stopped for riding a bicycle or walking?' We believe these things are happening in low income communities and the reason that people walk and ride bicycles is because they have no other way to get around," Rocker said.

More than 60 people took part in the weekend protest march. "We all feel that it was an unfortunate situation but it gives us the opportunity to make some changes," Rocker said.

Rocker would like the Bradenton Police Department to start sensitivity training for its officers. "We must respect people's cultures and allow them the opportunity to understand them more," Rocker said.

The department of Justice is investigating Humbert's death. Rocker said there is no timetable set. "We're not in a hurry. We just want a quality and thorough investigation."

This blog joins with SCLC leadership around the country whenever they stand up to protest taser-related deaths. These deaths are happening on a weekly basis in America. More of us need to stand side-by-side with SCLC.

Taser-Cop Del Shiflett Cleared in Killing of Derrick Humbert

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Bradenton Police Department each cleared Officer Del Shiflett [shown in photo] of any wrongdoing in the taser-killing of 38-year old Derrick Humbert. [SOURCE]

Villagers may recall that Humbert was riding a bicycle when he was pulled over by the police. Humbert made the mistake of running away from the unmarked police car ... and it cost him his life.

Police say Humbert fled from officers Sept. 28 after they tried to stop him for not having a light on his bicycle. Officer Del Shiflett shot Humbert in the back with a Taser as he ran.

A medical examiner has ruled Humbert, who had cocaine in his system, coupled with heart disease, died from a heart attack stemming from the exertion of the chase. Medical Examiner Dr. Russell Vega said the Taser did not play a role in Humbert's death.

The powers-that-be seem to have pulled it off in Florida. Another man killed by a taser without any accountability or responsibility taken by anyone. We are led to believe that he died on his own accord.

What do you think about this situation?

Taser Autopsy: Derrick Humbert (Bradenton FL)

The coroner down in Bradenton, FL indicates that the 50,000 volts of electricity zapped by a taser gun into 38-year old Derrick Humbert back on September 28 played a minor role in his death one hour later. [SOURCE]

Dr. Russell Vega works for the medical examiner's office. Vega says that Humbert's death was 'accidental'. He blames the death on cocaine toxicity and heart disease.

"His heart was enlarged. He had at least one large blockage," Dr. Russell Vega said in an interview today. "We see that as a cause of death by itself."

So ... let's recap. Humbert riding on his bicycle a few blocks from his home. Two Bradenton police officers stop him for not having a light affixed to the front of his bicycle. Humbert tries to run. Police officer Del Shiflett shot him with a taser. An hour later he is dead.

One moment he is alive. The next hour he is dead. And the powers-that-be in Bradenton insist that the taser shot did not cause Humbert’s death.

"If it did, it appears to be have been a minor role or none. There’s no way to confirm that," Vega said. "We simply couldn’t find any evidence the Taser played a role."

The death investigation is expected to be completed this week. A Bradenton Police Department’s internal review of the incident should wrap up next week.

I understand that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights group that opposes the use of Tasers, is scheduled to meet with officials at Bradenton Police Department about the incident later this week.

Bradenton Police Refuse to Accept Responsibility for Taser-Killing of Derrick Humbert

When will the police step up and accept responsibility for killing 38-year old Derrick Humbert back in September? Villagers may recall that Officers Del Shiflett and Christopher Roden, were clad in plainclothes, when they drove up on Humbert, who was riding a bicycle. Humbert wasn't wanted for any warrants. He was a father of four simply riding his bicycle.

The bike had no headlight affixed, which is against state law, according to the police. Shiflett and Roden made a tragic decision to hassle Mr. Humbert because his bicycle didn't have a headlight. Since when is DEATH the penalty for lack of a bicycle headlight?

Beth Burger, criminal justice reporter for the Bradenton Herald, shares a number of errors and ommissions by Shiflett and Roden in this taser-related death:

1. The two Bradenton Police Department officers did not turn on the blue emergency lights on their patrol car.


2. The officers never radioed dispatch that they were about to make a traffic stop. According to the police department's general orders, officers making traffic stops are supposed to notify dispatchers about the location of the stop and description of the vehicle.


3. In cases where there are two officers in one patrol car, the cop in the passenger seat is supposed to be responsible for radio communications, note taking and relaying messages. Roden did not call dispatchers until after the foot chase began, according to police radio recordings.


4. The officers, who were both trained to use video cameras in their police car, never activated the camera during their encounter. Having that video coverage might have given police investigators and the family of Derrick Humbert a better idea of what happened when Humbert led officers on a chase that ended with one of the officers shooting Humbert in the back with a Taser.

So, we are left with another dead Black man ... killed by taser-wielding police officers. Humbert was pronounced dead a short time after he was arrested. Officer Shiflett is the officer that used his taser gun to jolt 50,000 volts of electricity into the back of Mr. Humbert.

"You got him cuffed, Del?" Roden radioed.

"54 (Negative). I got on scene. I got him down. He's not moving," Shiflett replied.

A medical examiner's office is awaiting a toxicology report in order to determine a cause of death.

A police review of the case also is continuing, but Bradenton Police Deputy Chief William Tokajer said despite questions about how the officers attempted to pull over Humbert for a traffic stop, investigators have not found that the officers acted improperly, including in how the Taser was used. In other words, the police are not taking any responsibility for this man's death.

The Humbert family, which includes his four children, have many unanswered questions about what happened.

Humbert was going down the street to buy cigarettes, said Barbara Humbert, one of Humbert's sisters. He was staying with his girlfriend, she said.

"You really don't know what to think. There's so many rumors," she said. "We really need to know what happened that night." Had the officers used a camera and audio technology installed in their patrol car, Humbert's family would be able to watch the stop unfold.

"It looks suspicious. No matter which way the wind blows, it looks suspicious," she said.

Even though the law was followed, she believes the officers went too far.

"I think it was still wrong. They pulled him over for lights on his bicycle," she said. "If that was the main reason for pulling him over, they had the bike when he dumped it."

It amazes me that there is no consequences for the two officers involved in this extra-judicial electrocution. The shooter, Officer Shiflett was hired in January 2008 and is described by his supervisor as being a "new officer with little experience."

Officer Roden has been a police officer with the Bradenton Police Department since December 2008. He was fired in 2004 for lying in an arrest report. The sheriff's office fired Roden because his credibility could be considered questionable when making arrests.

Since the incident, the officers have remained on the job. Does the Bradenton Police Department have no shame?

What are your thoughts? Do you get a sense that something is wrong when people are being killed by taser-happy police officers at a rate of once-per-week in America? Will you support our Day of Blogging for Justice: Stop Taser Torture call-to-action on December 4th?

NAACP Shows No Cojones in Florida Taser Killing of Derrick Humbert

I truly want to give the NAACP the benefit of the doubt. I want them to be relevant at the national level and in each of their local branches around the country. However, the response of the NAACP Manatee County branch regarding the recent taser-killing down in Bradenton (FL) is very disappointing.

The NAACP issued a statement Thursday night:

“The branch looks forward to reviewing the results of the autopsy report so that we can make a well-informed decision on whether there was foul play or excessive force made by the arresting officer.”

A Black man is riding his bicycle at night. He is pulled over by Officer Del Shiflett because his bicycle doesn't have a light. In less than an hour, the Black man, Derrick Humbert, is dead. Humbert is the 41st person involved in a taser-related death this year. Over 40% of those taser killings involve a Black man.

In a telephone interview with a local newspaper, Manatee County NAACP President Ed Bailey, said,

“From what I understand, he was Tasered to be apprehended, and shorty after, he suffered from a medical condition that caused his death. Right now, we feel that’s something we don’t need to act on. If the autopsy doesn’t concur with the statement the police are making, then we will be looking into it further. Right now, we trust what the officers are saying is true.”

The police department has already exonerated Officer Shiflett ... saying that the killing of Humbert with the taser was within police department policy. And now the NAACP is co-signing that conclusion with a mealy-mouthed statement about "a medical condition that caused his death" and "we trust what the officers are saying is true."

Even President Ronald Reagan knew that you had to VERIFY if you were going to trust. That sage advice seems to be more than NAACP leaders in Manatee County can handle at this point.

On the other hand, the local Southern Christian Leadership Conference chapter accused Shifflet of using excessive force, and said it would be closely monitoring the investigation of Humbert’s death.

No wonder Ed Bailey's NAACP branch is losing members to the newly-formed SCLC chapter.

Perhaps NAACP national president Ben Jealous or some of the more progressive NAACP Branch members can give a call to the cojone-challenged Ed Bailey and let him know what the Black community expects from our leadership. If you are not going to protect our interests ... then just SHUT UP!

Taser Death: Derrick Humbert (Bradenton FL)

It happened again! We enter into the 40th week of 2009 ... and we report on the 40th taser-related death in America. One per week...

This time the tortured man is 38-year old Derrick Humbert. Police pulled Humbert's BICYCLE over at 12:18 am because he didn't have a light on the bike. Humbert got off his bike and ran through the yards of several houses in the neighborhood. Bradenton Police Officer Del Shiflett used his Taser in a fatal ending to the chase.

Before he was to be taken to the Manatee County Jail, paramedics took Humbert to Manatee Memorial Hospital for treatment, but he died there at about 1:00 am.

The penalty for running away from the police should not be death by electrocution. Yet, here we are again with a dead man at the hands of a so-called non-lethal weapon.

It took no time for the police to wave the druggie accusation. They immediately released the fact that Humbert was wanted on a warrant for possession of marijuana.

At this point everyone waits for the autopsy report.