Family wants answers after Taser death
Indianapolis – The family of a man who died after being stunned with a Taser by police is considering taking legal action. They believe the Taser played a role in his death and plan to sue either the manufacturer or Indianapolis Metro Police.
It was after a scuffle with police inside the O’Charley’s restaurant on 38th Street Friday night when Henry Orlando Bryant stopped breathing and died.
“It’s sad. It breaks my heart that he left like this. It really does,” said Rita Abram, mother.
Police were called to the restaurant after Scott Broadnax reportedly waved a handgun in the air. Broadnax, who has a conceal carry permit, cooperated with officers and gave them the weapon. But police say his friend Henry Bryant would not obey officers’ orders.
“He was not combative. He did not bad mouth the police department,” said Broadnax. “There was nothing that he did that would cause him to be tased or for him to lose his life that night.”
According to police, it took several officers to subdue the 35-year-old. Three officers were slightly hurt during the fight. They used chemical spray and a Taser to get Bryant to comply.
“He ended up dying for what reason, I don’t know,” said Broadnax.
In 2004, after a test period, Indianapolis decided to arm nearly half of the police force with Tasers. As part of their training, every officer that carries one is shot with the device.
“For us to use this on our own people for training we’re pretty confident it’s a safe weapon. This is just a very unusual circumstance,” said Sgt. Paul Thompson, IMPD.
In the past four years, officers have fired Tasers at suspects hundreds of times. It’s a practice IMPD defends, but raises serious questions for at least one family.
“If they continue to use these like they are, there’s going to be more deaths. Innocent people like my son getting killed when it’s not necessary,” said Abram.
Bryant’s preliminary cause of death has not been determined. It could take up to three months for a definitive cause. Two people have died after being tased by Indianapolis Police. In both cases, the coroner determined the men died as the result of a drug overdose, not the Taser.
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i wish there was something i could do.
he was a great person and he taught me alot of what i know about boxing and appreciating what i have. He was an inspiration to me. he was a fun and truly good man that died only because the police are crooked and need to be fixed.
if there is anything i can do to help you all just email me and use his name as the subject. thank you.
[...] Henry Bryant April 1, 2008 Indianapolis Indiana via Google Search [...]
I am the mother of Henry Orlando Bryant. I want people to know that my son, "Orlando" as we called him, was loved by many, many people and He touched the lives of many people in his short life time. And as all of you, Orlando was not perfect and He did make some wrong choses in his life. But that did not make him a bad person. He wasn't a murderer, a child molester, etc. The Bible tells us, " He without sin, cast the first stone". Orlando was a licensed Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a writting a book and in his writtings, He wrote about his struggles with sin and taking his flesh under submission. He was asking God to help him with the personal struggles that he was going through. There are three witnesses that have come forward that were there that night when my son was tasered to death. They say He did nothing to be tasered. And as Officer Charles Martin of IPS stood and tasered my son, witnesses said Orlando cried out to Jesus, his Lord and Savior, every time He was tasered. And with that said, all I can say to you is keep up with the story, because God's justice is going to be done in this situation. My son's death will not be in vain. God Bless you all.
My heart felt condolences, Ms. Abram. Loosing a loved one always leaves an empty feeling. Left your love fill the void, you have my love during this trying time, and I'm sure that of many of the people out there.
[quote post="2846"] My son’s death will not be in vain. God is in control and he says, "Touch not my annointed ones and do my prophets no harm". This battle is not mine, it's the Lords.[/quote]
My name is Troy E Lewis. I worked with Orlando in La. at the GM plant in Shreveport. I am so saddened by this. It is horrible that these murders continue to happen and nothing is being done about them. I'm sorry I am so behind on the case but to say that he died of a drug overdose is a shame and the dr. should have his/her liscenes removed. A drug overdose kills you where you are when you take the drug, not in a restaurant after you get tased by police. And why are so many people dieing from drugs only after they meet up with police officers?
I currently live in Baytown, Texas. Last year a gentle right up the street in Crosby called 911 because he was having a seizure. He was tased and also died from a drug overdose.
Someone told me that there was different findings in Orlando's case. If so please let me know so I can let this family know. And PLEASE, do not stop the fight.
Y0U N0W WhAt? MY C0USiN did AbS0lUtlY "N0tHiNG" t0 dESERVE tHiS.. iM SURE iF hE WERE tO bE diSRUPtIVE, hE DiDNt DESERVE tHiS TYPE 0F C0NSEQUENCE.! i FEEl liKE N0b0dY Sh0UlD hAVE t0 G0 tHR0UGh WAt MY BiG C0USiN WENt tHR0UGh.
bECAUSE 0F tHE IMPD MY C0USiN Will N0 l0NGER bE AblE t0 KiSS hiS dAUGHtER G00DNiTE. hE Will N0 l0NGER bE AblE t0 J0iN 0UR "fAMilY REUNi0NS" OR "GEt t0GEThERS". WE Will N0 l0NGER bE ABlE t0 SEE hiS BEAUtiFUl SMilE iN tHE flESh. All WE hAVE N0W IS.. SPiRiT, PiCTURES, AND MEM0RiES. WE Will NEVER bE ABlE t0 REGAiN FR0M hiS UNTiMElY dEAtH 0N tHAT fAtAl dAY 0f MARCH 28, 2008! hE WAS S0 l0VEd, ANd MUCh RESPECtED! hE WAS A VERY HAPPY PERS0N AR0UND ME. hE hAD JUSt ViSitED MY GRANDM0tHERS h0USE, Sh0RTlY bEf0RE HiS DEAtH. AND hE t0lD hER tHESE VERY W0RDS…
"Don't Worry About Me Auntie, I'll Be Okay. I Know God Has Got Me, And What Ever He Has Planned Will Happen."
"You Know Me, Im a Soldier!"
ANd HiS lASt W0RDS t0 US WAS,
"I Love Ya'll, And I'll See You At The Family Reunion!"
LiKE MY AUNt RiTA SAiD, MY C0USiN "Will N0T" DiE iN VAiN!
T0 MY AUNt RiTA:
AUNt RiTA StAY StR0NG, WE Will FiND JUSTiCE f0R lANDO.
Y0U ARE tHE StR0NGESt W0MAN i KN0W.. AND i JUSt WANT Y0U t0 kN0W tHAT Y0U SH0UlD NEVER GiVE UP!.
i L0VE Y0U WitH All MY hEARt!
Y0U tRUlEY RAiSED AN AWES0ME S0N!
i L0VE Y0U lAND0! :]