A Broward grand jury has cleared three Coconut Creek officers in the 2015 death of a man who was shot with a Taser after authorities said he was on Flakka and became aggressive with paramedics who found him cut and covered in blood.
Police on Thursday announced that the grand jury didn't find sufficient evidence to justify the filing of charges in the February 2015 death of Calvon Reid. The police department had cleared officers Daniel Rush, Thomas Eisenring, and David Freeman last June.
"I am pleased with the Grand Jury’s conclusion. However, any loss of life is a tragedy," Coconut Creek Police Chief Albert Arenal said in a statement. "The City of Coconut Creek sends its condolences to the Reid family for their loss.”
Reid, 39, died after paramedics had responded to a 911 call. According to police, paramedics with the Margate-Coconut Creek Fire Department had responded to the 911 call for a medical incident when they found Reid, who was "in an agitated, combative state, and incoherent," according to a police news release.
Reid had numerous cuts on his arms, hands and chest, and his clothing was torn and bloodstained, police said. When he became aggressive with the paramedics, they called police to the scene.
As the officers arrived, Reid became more agitated and the officers tried to detain him, police said. Reid "exhibited threatening behavior and appeared to be hallucinating," police said.
Reid refused to comply with officers and the officers shot him with a Taser, police said. He was taken to Northwest Medical Center where he died two days later.
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Reid's father has said his son was doing nothing wrong and has questioned why he was killed, saying it was "uncalled for." Reid's family has filed a civil lawsuit against the city.
"The City’s position in the lawsuit is that the officers’ actions were justified based upon Mr. Reid’s exhibition of superhuman strength and aggressive behavior and his failure to obey the officers’ lawful commands," the police department said in a statement Thursday. "The evidence, including blood test results, shows that Mr. Reid was under the influence of Flakka as well as cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol. Flakka is a synthetic street drug that often leads to excited delirium, violent behavior, spikes in body temperature, paranoia, increased strength, and loss of awareness of reality and surroundings."
