Jameek Lowery was in trouble and he knew it. He had already called 911...twice; he had been to the hospital where somewhere in the process between arriving and examination he either left or was kicked out. The 27-year-old, in the throes of a psychotic event — or suffering from spinal meningitis — knew one last place where he was sure to get the help he desperately needed: the police. And so he got on his Facebook Live page and with his cellphone in hand went to the police headquarters in Paterson, New Jersey. Fatal mistake.
A system cannot fail those it was never built to protect —Vann Newkirk
Police officers deny touching him, but several are now under investigation. A father of three in Paterson, N.J., was captured on video early Saturday morning entering police headquarters hysterical, paranoid and asking for water. Within 48 hours, he had died of injuries from a severe beating. Police officers deny touching him, but several are now under investigation.
Lowery had activated Facebook Live to record the confrontation, in which he seems terrified that someone is trying to kill him — at times even suspicious police officers in front of him. “Why are y’all trying to kill me? What did I do?” he asks, as he becomes increasingly distressed and begs the officers not to shoot. It was about 4 a.m. when 27-year-old Jameek Lowery walked into the Paterson police headquarters, foaming at the mouth and pleading frantically for help. Lowery had activated Facebook Live to record the confrontation, in which he seems terrified that someone is trying to kill him — at times even suspicious police officers in front of him. “Why are y’all trying to kill me? What did I do?” he asks, as he becomes increasingly distressed and begs the officers not to shoot.
Shades of Freddie Gray.
After calling EMS workers, “police used physical force and compliance holds to secure Mr. Lowery in the ambulance.” The statement indicates, “Hospital records indicate no acute trauma” and claims the ride to the hospital took “five to twelve minutes.” The prosecutor’s office claims Lowery entered the hospital unresponsive and “was pronounced dead at the local area hospital in the early morning hours of January 7, 2019.” (my bold)
In the responses I have seen online, hateful racists were quick to attribute his death to his moral failings — the fact that he’d told 911 that he’d taken ecstasy. Toxicology reports showed that he had no drugs in his system.
Valdes said in a statement earlier this week that Lowery may have taken ecstasy before he died. However, hospital toxicology reports show the father of two kids, ages 8 and 11 months, had not taken narcotics, NorthJersey.com reported.
In summary: Jameek went to the police HQ looking for help; he begged them for some water; they saw him, they heard him, they refused to offer him a glass/bottle of water. They called for an ambulance for him, on the way to the hospital he mysteriously sustained traumatic injuries and died within 48 hours thereafter. I have seen rabid animals treated more humanely.
Jameek’s death certificate will record the cause of death as spinal meningitis. Did the battering he sustained at the hands of those in the ambulance contribute to his untimely death? What really happened at the hospital on his first visit? Could a drop of water have made a difference, if only to his sense of wellbeing?
It brings me to tears to think of him determinedly marching to the precinct because he had faith in law enforcement agents; he chose to believe that there he’d get the help he needed. Despite everything we know about the relationship between police and communities of color, Jameek, in one of the last decisions he’d ever make, went to the cops to save him and they failed him...if not actively killed him.
RIP dear Jameek. You deserved so much better. Condolences to Jameek’s loved ones. #BlackLivesMatter
(H/t to Tevye for bringing this case to my attention. Thank you, my brother.)