Family Calls For Investigation After Man Dies In Police Custody

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Dec 18, 2012 10:20PM

Rev. Jesse Jackson is joining a family's cry for investigation of a man's death in police custody after being Tasered by police last week. The family of Philip Coleman said he "wouldn't hurt a fly," and his father Percy Coleman said his son was having a breakdown when he was taken into police custody.

"I told them [police] that my son was having an emotional breakdown, and could they please take him to the hospital," said Coleman, according to DNAinfo.com. "And that's when one of the officers said, 'We do not do hospitals, we do jail.' Unbelievable."

"He fell ill and needed help, and instead of getting help he got death," Rev. Jackson said. Philip Coleman was a board member of Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Police said Philip Coleman had become combative. DNAinfo writes:

At some point, Philip Coleman allegedly spit blood on officers. But Percy Coleman said his son "was spitting to clear his throat so he could breathe" — and didn't intentionally target officers.

He was taken into police custody, and as officers later escorted him to court from the Calumet District police station on the South Side, he "became combative" and was Tasered, officials said last week.

Police say the incident is under investigation by the Independent Police Review Authority, but Rev. Jackson said he does not trust that and demanded an external investigation with a special prosecutor, "just like the case involving Mayor Daley's nephew."

"It's unbelievable. It's just unbelievable," said Percy Coleman. "I can guarantee you we're going to get to the bottom of this."