Protesters Descend on City Hall in Response to Death

Scott Kappes — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:41:02 GMT

The La Marque police station and city hall became gathering grounds for about 60 police brutality and anti-taser protesters Thursday afternoon. The protesters were speaking out against the use of tasers following the death of a local man who was “tasered” by police last Sunday.

Jamaal Valentine died Sunday night after the incident in which three La Marque police officers tried to arrest him after people reporting him walking down the middle of main street and rolling in the grass on the side of the road. One of those eye witnesses said that he called police asking for medical help for Valentine who claimed he thought he was having a heart attack.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, but many suspect that the use of the taser may have directly contributed to Valentine’s passing.

The protest was organized by local business owner and former Galveston county Sheriff’s deputy Glen Wilson, who owns a barber shop across the street from La Marque police station. The group, lead by Wilson, is demanding that the incident be investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Mayor Geraldine Sam and Councilman Keith Bell addressed the crowd at city hall asking for patience and support of police officers during the ongoing investigation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

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Protesters Descend on City Hall in Response to Death