No Criminal Charges Against Officers in Saylor Death Investigation
By: Katie Kyros
Updated: March 22, 2013
FREDERICK COUNTY, MD- A decision was made in the case of the New Market man with Down syndrome who died while in police custody in January. The police officers testified in court on Friday.
The grand jury heard testimony from the three deputies involved in Ethan Saylor's death. Their investigation concluded, and they will not seek criminal charges against the officers.
Meanwhile, Saylor's family is calling for the investigation and autopsy reports to now be released to the public.
The State's Attorney says the grand jury heard evidence from 17 eyewitness reports. The three deputies were off duty working as security guards at a movie theater when they were called because Saylor refused to leave the theater.
The State's Attorney says Saylor became psychically resistant and was handcuffed on his stomach on the ground. He says the whole incident only lasted a few minutes, and Saylor died of asphyxiation.
"I'm not going to comment whether... it was right or wrong," says State's Attorney Charlie Smith. "But perhaps there's police agencies that don't have policies for dealing with these people and perhaps they should."
When witnesses saw it was an emergency they took the handcuffs off.
The State's Attorney says the conditions of Down syndrome, obesity and heart disease contributed to Saylor's death, making him susceptible to sudden death in stressful situations. WHAG spoke to the Saylor Family Attorney who contends the lack of understanding and training about people with disabilities also contributed to his death.
The grand jury does not determine civil liability or what will happen to the deputies professionally. The Saylor family has not said if they'll seek a civil suit yet.
The grand jury heard testimony from the three deputies involved in Ethan Saylor's death. Their investigation concluded, and they will not seek criminal charges against the officers.
Meanwhile, Saylor's family is calling for the investigation and autopsy reports to now be released to the public.
The State's Attorney says the grand jury heard evidence from 17 eyewitness reports. The three deputies were off duty working as security guards at a movie theater when they were called because Saylor refused to leave the theater.
The State's Attorney says Saylor became psychically resistant and was handcuffed on his stomach on the ground. He says the whole incident only lasted a few minutes, and Saylor died of asphyxiation.
"I'm not going to comment whether... it was right or wrong," says State's Attorney Charlie Smith. "But perhaps there's police agencies that don't have policies for dealing with these people and perhaps they should."
When witnesses saw it was an emergency they took the handcuffs off.
The State's Attorney says the conditions of Down syndrome, obesity and heart disease contributed to Saylor's death, making him susceptible to sudden death in stressful situations. WHAG spoke to the Saylor Family Attorney who contends the lack of understanding and training about people with disabilities also contributed to his death.
The grand jury does not determine civil liability or what will happen to the deputies professionally. The Saylor family has not said if they'll seek a civil suit yet.
