From [HERE] A Black man found dead at an abandoned house in Colbert County last month had earlier this year filed a federal lawsuit against Sheffield police officers alleging police brutality.

Dennoriss Richardson, 39, of Sheffield, was found hanging by a rope on Sept. 28, said civil rights attorney Roderick Van Daniel, who represented Richardson in the federal lawsuit.

Van Daniel has called for a federal investigation of what he says is a suspicious death.

U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona said she was not familiar with the case. “We can’t deny or confirm the existence of any investigation,” said FBI Public Affairs Specialist Toni Herrera-Bast.

Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine said his office has investigated and ruled the death a suicide.

“We received a call of a suspicious vehicle at a residence on Highway 72, on the west side of Colbert County,” Balentine said. “When our deputies go down to investigate the suspicious vehicle, they located Mr. Richardson. He was hanging from a beam on the carport.”

Richardson’s wife, Leigh Ann Richardson, said she is absolutely convinced it was not a suicide.

“I need answers,” she said. “This was made to look like a suicide. It’s not a suicide.”

She said that Richardson had been repeatedly arrested, beaten, and harassed by Sheffield police officers who said they would drop charges against him if he would drop the federal lawsuit.

He repeatedly refused, she said.

They harassed him his whole life’

Richardson filed a lawsuit Feb. 26 against several Sheffield police officers, including former Sheffield Police Lt. Max Dotson.

Dotson was fired for a separate incident after he was found guilty of a December 2022 assault against another Black man while off duty.

Dotson, four other officers, and Police Chief Ricky Terry were named in the lawsuit as having taken part in abusive behavior while Richardson was detained in the Sheffield City Jail from Nov. 30 until Dec. 1, 2022.

“Any abuse of inmates is contrary to our policy,” Sheffield Mayor Steve Stanley said. “I have preached repeatedly that everyone we encounter, whether they’ve committed a crime or not, deserves respect and humane treatment. I’m hoping that that philosophy and standard is embraced by all of our employees.”

The small northwest Alabama town with a population of about 9,307 residents is predominantly white, 71%, and has a Black population of about 23%, according to Census data. [MORE]