Louisiana Police Choke Man to Death for Drugs in His Mouth
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Authorities in Livingston Parish, Louisiana say a deputy acted appropriately in trying to arrest a man at a traffic stop who died while in custody.
Dash cam video of deadly traffic stop released
Updated: July 10, 2009 07:21 AM
By Tyana Williams - bio | email
LIVINGSTON, LA (WAFB) - The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office has released the dash cam video of a deadly traffic stop and in doing so said its deputies followed procedure.
The video shows Deputy Chris Sturdivant as he pulls over 42-year-old Adam Stogner. The tape starts with the deputy asking Stogner for his license. It ends with an officer asking the man if he's still breathing.
Chief Deputy Jason Ard says when the video starts Adam Stogner did not put his truck in park. They say that backs up the reason he was pulled over. The deputy believed he was impaired. On the tape, there is audio of the deputy asking for Stogner's license. "What you got in your hand? the deputy then asks. "Give me your hand," he demands. "I don't have nothing in my hand," Stogner responds. "I swear to you."
The media watched the video with Ard and several other law enforcement agents. "Pay attention to the subject's right hand," Ard said. On the dash cam video, the deputy tells Stogner to open his hand. Deputies say they believe Stogner was holding a baggy of narcotics in his right hand. The tape shows Stogner moving something from one hand to the other and placing it in his mouth. "Did you see him put it in his mouth? Ard asks. "Right there and this is where the struggle starts," he points out. "Spit it out!" the deputy tells Stogner.
All this is happening while the deputy was trying to handcuff the man. The deputy does get one cuff on, but because the two seem to be in a wrestling match, Ard says that loose cuff can be a weapon. At several points, there are images of what looks like the deputy hitting Stogner. The sheriff's office says another time it looks like Stogner is crawling toward the interstate with the deputy on his back. And again, it appears the deputy hits the man.
"He was appropriate in his actions. He followed departmental protocol in trying to arrest a subject who tried to resist," Ard said. Only after two more deputies arrive on scene is Stogner completely cuffed. Keep in mind, the baggy is still in his mouth. It's then that one of the deputies notices Stogner is having trouble breathing and calls for medical help. "Is he breathing?" one of the deputies asked. "I don't know," another answered.
Deputies say Stogner later died along Interstate 12. Deputies did start CPR until EMS arrived. Peter John, the family's lawyer, says only one thing is clear from the tape. He says Adam Stogner never tried to hit the deputy. "Adam got his butt beat, okay, 'cause he's all bruised up and dead," John said. "Is that justified by what the officer wanted out of his hand?"
Stogner's family's attorney says the family plans to conduct its own autopsy and investigation. Preliminary results from the Livingston Parish coroner show Stogner died from severe coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, and a fracture of the hyoid bone in his neck. Dr. Ron Coe says the fracture may be due to force being applied to that area. Dr. Coe says Stogner also tested positive for methamphetamine. The coroner also said the death was accidental. Louisiana State Police have been called in to assist the sheriff's office in investigating this case.
Authorities in Livingston Parish, Louisiana say a deputy acted appropriately in trying to arrest a man at a traffic stop who died while in custody.
Dash cam video of deadly traffic stop released
Updated: July 10, 2009 07:21 AM
By Tyana Williams - bio | email
LIVINGSTON, LA (WAFB) - The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office has released the dash cam video of a deadly traffic stop and in doing so said its deputies followed procedure.
The video shows Deputy Chris Sturdivant as he pulls over 42-year-old Adam Stogner. The tape starts with the deputy asking Stogner for his license. It ends with an officer asking the man if he's still breathing.
Chief Deputy Jason Ard says when the video starts Adam Stogner did not put his truck in park. They say that backs up the reason he was pulled over. The deputy believed he was impaired. On the tape, there is audio of the deputy asking for Stogner's license. "What you got in your hand? the deputy then asks. "Give me your hand," he demands. "I don't have nothing in my hand," Stogner responds. "I swear to you."
The media watched the video with Ard and several other law enforcement agents. "Pay attention to the subject's right hand," Ard said. On the dash cam video, the deputy tells Stogner to open his hand. Deputies say they believe Stogner was holding a baggy of narcotics in his right hand. The tape shows Stogner moving something from one hand to the other and placing it in his mouth. "Did you see him put it in his mouth? Ard asks. "Right there and this is where the struggle starts," he points out. "Spit it out!" the deputy tells Stogner.
All this is happening while the deputy was trying to handcuff the man. The deputy does get one cuff on, but because the two seem to be in a wrestling match, Ard says that loose cuff can be a weapon. At several points, there are images of what looks like the deputy hitting Stogner. The sheriff's office says another time it looks like Stogner is crawling toward the interstate with the deputy on his back. And again, it appears the deputy hits the man.
"He was appropriate in his actions. He followed departmental protocol in trying to arrest a subject who tried to resist," Ard said. Only after two more deputies arrive on scene is Stogner completely cuffed. Keep in mind, the baggy is still in his mouth. It's then that one of the deputies notices Stogner is having trouble breathing and calls for medical help. "Is he breathing?" one of the deputies asked. "I don't know," another answered.
Deputies say Stogner later died along Interstate 12. Deputies did start CPR until EMS arrived. Peter John, the family's lawyer, says only one thing is clear from the tape. He says Adam Stogner never tried to hit the deputy. "Adam got his butt beat, okay, 'cause he's all bruised up and dead," John said. "Is that justified by what the officer wanted out of his hand?"
Stogner's family's attorney says the family plans to conduct its own autopsy and investigation. Preliminary results from the Livingston Parish coroner show Stogner died from severe coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, and a fracture of the hyoid bone in his neck. Dr. Ron Coe says the fracture may be due to force being applied to that area. Dr. Coe says Stogner also tested positive for methamphetamine. The coroner also said the death was accidental. Louisiana State Police have been called in to assist the sheriff's office in investigating this case.
Another "failure to comply" homicide. Some day , and I hope soon, these assholes will reap the rewards for killing their own people, neighbors, ...Humans.
Exactly. Failure to comply. Failure to be obedient. It's ridiculous.
What's next? You gonna blame the cop for all the hoagies and pork chops this guy ate that caused the "severe coronary artery disease" he had? This shitbag has nobody to blame but himself for the way his life ended.
Anyone that watches this and thinks that what happened is "okay" needs counseling. The cop was choking and beating him. Choking is not a good way to pry a mouth open. It is, however, a good way to seriously injure someone. What I saw was murder, hands down. I hope the men that did this see their day in court.
There was no attempt to 'pry' his mouth open. His hand on his throat was to prevent him from swallowing. You don't stick your fingers in the mouth of a tweaked out meth head who is already trying to resist you... all you get is your fingers bitten off and hepatitis for your trouble.
I'm sorry, did I miss the part where the coroner listed "asphyxiation" as a cause of death? No because he was not applying enough force to prevent breathing.
This fat meth'd out tub of shit died because his plugged up heart gave out during the struggle HE caused.
A drugged out overweight redneck tried to hide drugs in his hand as he talked to a cop, probably forgetting they were there in the first place. The cop sees this and he says 'uh...nothings there sir. i swear.'
-the cop says, 'ok. then open your hand.'
-he refuses
They struggle, and the cop says open your hand, but he says 'theres nothing there' and doesnt open it
- he puts it in his other hand then in his mouth and they fight and he RESISTS ARREST.
-this fatass was on drugs, resisting arrest while the cop tried to subdue him as he told him to 'spit it out'.
How else was the cop supposed to handle this fatfuck who was probably drugged out? When did he hold him down and choke him to death? I have seen alot of videos on here of excessive force and police brutality, but I'm not sure I would call this one either of those.
Okay, I'll say it.... ready?
Shoulda tazed him!
Thanks thanks, I'm here all week.
Shoulda tazed him!
Haha. Or we could drop this insane war on drugs.
>> ^Creature:
Anyone that watches this and thinks that what happened is "okay" needs counseling. The cop was choking and beating him. Choking is not a good way to pry a mouth open. It is, however, a good way to seriously injure someone. What I saw was murder, hands down. I hope the men that did this see their day in court.
There was no attempt to 'pry' his mouth open. His hand on his throat was to prevent him from swallowing. You don't stick your fingers in the mouth of a tweaked out meth head who is already trying to resist you... all you get is your fingers bitten off and hepatitis for your trouble.
I'm sorry, did I miss the part where the coroner listed "asphyxiation" as a cause of death? No because he was not applying enough force to prevent breathing.
This fat meth'd out tub of shit died because his plugged up heart gave out during the struggle HE caused.
"Stogner died from severe coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, and a fracture of the hyoid bone in his neck"
As I said before, if you're so angry as to wish death as a punishment for disobedience and a victemless crime go get counseling. Its unhealthy, and quite frankly disturbing.
...or else.
"Stogner died from severe coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, and a fracture of the hyoid bone in his neck"
As I said before, if you're so angry as to wish death as a punishment for disobedience and a victemless crime go get counseling. Its unhealthy, and quite frankly disturbing.
That's a little overboard. I haven't heard anyone wishing death on anyone. I'm not a doctor, but I imagine that small fractures are a frequent consequence of resisting arrest. This guy just happens to be the unlucky dude whose condition and the exact nature of his injuries lead to his death.
Frankly, whether we have a war on drugs or not, I hope that cops continue to pull over people who are driving impaired. If there's cause, I hope they haul these people off to the station to sleep it off.
Obviously it sucks that this guy died for no good reason. If this is a cause for outrage though, I'd be interested to hear what the outraged people would prefer the police do differently. Not pull over impaired drivers? Not arrest people who seem to be driving under the influence? Let a suspect swallow god knows what and choke/OD and die in police custody? Let people who resist arrest go because there's a danger that once in awhile the force needed to subdue them could cause serious injury? Or is there something else?
I'm legitimately curious.
Should have let this scrote swallow the drugs and die of an O.D. What an asshole this cop is for trying to A) stop him from swallowing the narcotics and thus putting his life at risk, and B) trying to subdue a criminal resisting a lawful arrest, so that oh I don't know.. he could get him medical attention for the unknown quantity of narcotics he just ingested?
What's next? You gonna blame the cop for all the hoagies and pork chops this guy ate that caused the "severe coronary artery disease" he had? This shitbag has nobody to blame but himself for the way his life ended.
This comes back to the age old "Nanny-State" debate. If the guy wants to swallow drugs and kill himself so be it. Why should anyone interfere with that?
I agree the cop should TRY to stop it, but if after 30 seconds the guy is still refusing not to swallow then just let him do it otherwise you risk hurting him just as much if not more so than whatever drugs.
The police take a dangerous route here assuming that this guy didn't have the drugs in a balloon or some sort of baggie that would allow them to pass through his system safely.
Also they broke bone in his neck doing this, that is just ridiculous.
This is opinion: This more or less boils down to them wanting the ability to have evidence to prosecute against him, not saving this guys life.
Now that I've said that: OPEN YOUR MOTHER FUCKING HAND YOUR DUMBASS MOTHERFUCKER!
This is exactly what happens when you're "defending your rights" in a one-on-one situation where the cop has a gun and is stronger than you.
Did he die fighting for his freedom? No, he died because he was a dumbshit.
>> ^Creature
"Stogner died from severe coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, and a fracture of the hyoid bone in his neck"
As I said before, if you're so angry as to wish death as a punishment for disobedience and a victemless crime go get counseling. Its unhealthy, and quite frankly disturbing.
>> ^Mikus_Aurelius: That's a little overboard. I haven't heard anyone wishing death on anyone. I'm not a doctor, but I imagine that small fractures are a frequent consequence of resisting arrest. This guy just happens to be the unlucky dude whose condition and the exact nature of his injuries lead to his death.
read what creature wrote, again - it's in bold, hard to miss. the cop broke this guy's neck. now that's what I'd call overboard, no matter what.
so much inconsiderate bs, I just had to upvote and join the legion of douche, who think "resisting arrest" is a legitimate excuse to kill people
Now, what this cop does share with all cops and many others is full and personal responsibility for every death, which number in the thousands, every assault and false imprisonment which number in the millions, civil rights violation, billions, stolen tax dollar, trillions, resulting from their immoral support of prohibition. I'd be quite happy to see him tortured to death with all his kind.
What the video absolutely does not show is the cop trying to protect the man's health or help him in any way. He wanted the evidence. Those of you deliberately misinterpreting the footage to preserve your worldviews are liars, and lying to cover up guilt for a man's death is reprehensible.
You can enterpret the intentions behind the actions that lead to his death any way you like. In the end, a man is dead for a crime that does not justify the penalty he ultimately paid. You can send a man to jail for resisting arrest and you can send a man to jail for swallowing evidence but you cannot give a man his life back after you've taken it.
One innings people, live it like you mean it and don't kill any more humans.
I hope this haunts this cop for the rest of his life, because it should.
What the video absolutely does not show is the cop trying to protect the man's health or help him in any way. He wanted the evidence. Those of you deliberately misinterpreting blah blah blah....
If all he wanted was the evidence, he would have let him swallow it and retrieved it later. Your interpretation of what this video shows makes no sense. Who would you want tortured and killed if this guy killed someone you cared about on the road?
So the next question is, if you don't let him swallow the drugs and you don't want this cop to try and arrest him, what's left? Give him a ticket and let the meth-ed out drug addict get back in his car and on his way. Cause I guarantee you if he gets pulled over, let go, then kills someone on his way home everyone would be just as up in arms with the cop for having pulled the guy over and not doing something.
Seriously, if you got a problem with this...GTFO of my country! And take your drugs with you. I may have some issues with the way police work... this is not one of those times.