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i can t breathe
Body Cam Footage Captures Oklahoma Cop Responding 'I Don't Care' To Man Who Died After Saying 'I Can't Breathe'
The policing system in America is under renewed criticism after a series of encounters that led to police killing unarmed Black citizens.
As demonstrators and protesters call for more accountability, new videos are being released after calls for increased transparency.
In a video taken last year, police bodycam footage shows what happened leading to the death of Derrick Scott.
'I can't breathe:' Oklahoma City police release body cam video of man's death last year at request owww.youtube.com
In May 2019, Oklahoma City Police responded to reports of a man displaying a gun during an argument. When police arrived on the scene, they were directed to Scott.
The officers try to arrest Scott, who runs away when they ask about his weapon. Despite his attempt, the officers quickly catch him and detain him on the ground.
Scott is pinned down by three officers. During this time, he tries repeatedly to tell the officers he can't breathe and asks for his inhaler.
The officer responds,
"I don't care."
Derrick Scott (42): “I can't breathe"
Cop: “I don't care"
It's not a few bad apples, it's a rotten crop. Nothing is more revealing than those words “I don't care"... and THAT is exactly why people have to keep saying #BlackLifesMatters, until it does.https://t.co/Wl43YHOXSb
— Assal Rad (@AssalRad) June 11, 2020
this footage JUST surfaced from may 2019... KEEP FIGHTING AND SAY HIS NAME! #DerrickScott https://t.co/h9B1Fi74jX
— 𝚓𝚊𝚣𝚣𝚢 (@jazsignature) June 12, 2020
How many times don't we know about?
Many things are not made public. https://t.co/JbKdz93ugi
— Peggysuz (@Peggysuz2017) June 11, 2020
Throughout the video, the arresting officers downplay Scott's pleas for his life.
One can be heard telling him:
"You can breathe just fine."
Scott later falls unconscious, then the paramedics finally arrive. An officer tells them he's acting unconscious and they aren't sure if it's the truth.
Scott is taken to the hospital where he is pronounced dead.
Oklahoma City police kill Black men at a rate higher than the US murder rate. Oklahoma City has the second highest rate of police violence in America (behind St. Louis City). https://t.co/bhVPmMGTPc https://t.co/YiTjutKuM7
— Samuel Sinyangwe (@samswey) June 11, 2020
This happened last year in May. Still infuriating. #DerrickScott #SayHisName https://t.co/z3vRyZ2JaF
— Ian Budding☀️ (@IanMBudding) June 11, 2020
These contemporary standards? https://t.co/G1dI9jel9y https://t.co/RyHjuoD1Y5
— Carlos Moreno (@chimchim237) June 11, 2020
This happened in 2019 and they JUST released this just now. What happened to George is not isolated. It's a theme for them.. Police should be defunded, retrained, and held accountable.
— ❤️ (@Love_x_Taty) June 11, 2020
Eric Garner - "I can't breathe!"
George Floyd - "I can't breathe!"
Manuel Ellis - "I can't breathe!"
Elijah McClain - "I can't breathe!"
Javier Ambler - "I can't breathe!"
Derrick Elliot Scott - "I can't breathe!"https://t.co/Y31Y9cPUZG
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 10, 2020
The report from the medical examiner did not list a manner of death and said the officer's actions did not result in 'fatal trauma.'
The report also listed several factors that contributed to his death including methamphetamine use, asthma, and physical restraint.
The officers were defended by Oklahoma City Police Capt. Larry Withrow.
He downplayed Scott's cries that he couldn't breathe and the officer's response.
"During the heat of a conflict like that, certainly that may be something an officer says. Just understand — the officers are fighting with someone at that point."
Local activists and Scott's relatives aren't satisfied, and in light of current events, seek a resolution.
All footage should be automatically uploaded to a server after each shift and available to the public. We need REAL TIME ACCOUNTABILITY
— Samantha🌹 (@sammiecoop27) June 11, 2020
I agree! Also the sad part is these are cases that at least got to be recorded. It makes me sad thinking there were many other situations where they got away with sickening shit like this SMH
— k.a.g indigo (@seshwitk) June 11, 2020
you cant retrain this. you wont fix this with a seminar
— queen latifa lockhart vol 2 (@djyungsnuggie89) June 11, 2020
#revolt
— Rick Karl 🌬️ 🏴🦍🚩 (@rkbfreeme) June 11, 2020
This incident was a year before the current climate, but is another in a long series of deadly interactions with police.
The phrase became a significant part of the public consciousness when Eric Garner uttered them as his final words in 2014.
Since then, they have become all too common, both as a recurring incident in police brutality and as a rallying cry to fight the systemic racial bias in law enforcement.