Dozens Tell NAACP of Jacksonville Police Using Excessive Force

After two black men charged with minor crimes died in police custody the first weekend of December, the NAACP scheduled a meeting to hear from other members of the community about their treatment by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Thursday night, more than 100 people turned out at Central Baptist Church in Springfield to tell of their encounters with police. Speaker after speaker said there is a pattern of excessive force. "I'm not afraid of criminals, I'm not afraid of anybody with guns. The only people I'm afraid of is JSO," Tony PIttman said. NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin demanded that city officials create a citizens committee to review the use of police force. Ezra Jones, 29, died in police after being restrained at the Duval County Jail shortly after his arrest Dec. 5.Sammy Evans Jr., 49, died after his arrest early for public drinking across from his home Dec. 3. Sammy Evans Jr., 49, died after his arrest early Friday morning on suspicion of public drinking. He had an open container of alcohol across the street from his house. Autopsy results show he had a broken neck. Ezra Jones, 29, died in police custody shortly after being arrested Sunday afternoon. He was described as "combative" and placed in a restraining chair. He died 40 minutes later. The cause of his death has not yet been determined. In addition to an internal investigation, Sheriff John Rutherford asked federal prosecutors to see if there was any criminal wrongdoing in the two men's deaths. The FBI is now investigating. On Monday, state Sen. Tony Hill is scheduled to announce formation of a Jacksonville Deadly Force Review Commission, which will review the deaths in custody of Evans and Jones. [more]