Amherst County Deserves Explanation in Taylor Death
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The News & Advance
Published: April 19, 2008
To function properly with a democracy, a law enforcement agency needs to have the trust, confidence and support of the community it serves.
The Amherst County Sheriff’s Department needs to remember that in the days ahead.
It’s been almost three years since Sanchez Jarkel Taylor ran out of gas on U.S. 29, just south of Faulconerville in Amherst County. Three years since he trekked up the hill to Bethel’s Welding the afternoon of June 16, 2005, to see if he could borrow the phone to call for help. Three years since Sanchez Jarkel Taylor died of injuries incurred at the hands of five sheriff’s deputies.
Five deputies responded to a call of a “suspicious” young black man “lurking” around the business just after 5 p.m. When the first two arrived, they ordered Taylor down on his knees, and he immediately complied. He was then maced and hit with a baton; when he managed to get up and began struggling, they threw him down to the ground again atop a metal rack. Three more deputies arrived and, after another struggle, basically sat on Taylor, with his face to the ground, and hogtied him.
That was the point — 5:40 p.m. — when one of the deputies noticed he wasn’t breathing. One hour and 22 minutes later, at 7:24 p.m., he was dead.
After Taylor’s autopsy results came in, Dr. David N. Cresson, a Lynchburg pathologist, declared his death a homicide, the killing of one human being by the act or omission of another.
Amherst Sheriff Jimmy Ayers called in the Virginia State Police to conduct an investigation; Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Maddox asked Halifax County prosecutor Kim White to handle the legal duties.
And there the matter has sat.
For three long years.
State police officials here and in Richmond say their investigation ended long ago, and the report was turned over to White.
But White, a seasoned prosecutor and former colleague of Maddox’s in the office of former Commonwealth’s Attorney Bill Petty, has said nothing publicly about the matter.
Neither she nor the Amherst sheriff’s department has had any comment, claiming an “ongoing” investigation precludes them from doing so.
Even though state police say they finished long ago.
Nothing about the circumstances surrounding Taylor’s death. Nothing about whether any of the five deputies will face criminal charges. Nothing to anyone at all. For almost three years.
Lynchburg attorney Aurelia Langhorne has filed a $15 million suit on behalf of Melva Taylor Davis, Taylor’s mother, arguing that his federal civil rights were violated and that local law enforcement officials tried to cover up the circumstances surrounding the death.
Federal Judge Norman Moon, in a January 2008 hearing, quizzed an attorney for the deputies as to why Taylor was maced, hit with a baton, thrown face down to the ground and hogtied when police reports said he immediately dropped to his knees in compliance with deputies’ initial orders. “If the person is such that he’s easily controlled by five deputies, you don’t get to throw him to the ground,” Moon said Jan. 4 in a pre-trial hearing. (A week-long trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 15 in federal court.)
When Clarence Beard died in the custody of Lynchburg police in September 2006, the events that followed his death were quite different. An internal investigation was quickly undertaken. The state police were immediately called in. Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Doucette was out front in a hurry with a detailed report, taking questions from the public and actually answering them.
The public is due an explanation in this matter, if for no other reason than that for almost three years, no one has said a word.
A mother has lost her son. Residents of Amherst County have a sheriff’s department under a cloud with allegations of civil-rights violations and a cover-up swirling around it.
For the good of everyone, it’s time for this matter to end.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( hogtown gal ) on June 01, 2008 at 10:44 am
This is just another of Amherst deputy’s overkill for the situation. These deputies need more supervision and less cover up for what they do. I hope the victim’s family gets BIG BUCKS not that it will bring their family member back, but it will send a message to over-zealous deputies, I hope. If this is the way the State Police investigate, then Justin B. has absolutely no chance of having his REAL KILLER pay for his crime (serve time). I do not understand why the Wright boy is still in jail since the Deputy’s son is the one who killed Justin B? I hope our Amherst Sheriff’s dept will wake up and see that the Amherst taxpayers and citizens do not like the service and harassment we get. If we complain about something, we get harassed and this is NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
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Posted by ( poet ) on April 27, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Nice try Amos. You not only changed the subject to hide your shame, but you ran so fast you ran into another subject that makes just as little sense.
So in your world even if what you say is true, does that mean we just ignore victimization? Why does one justify the other?
Let me say this. I don’t know what bubble you live in where there’s no obligation to address injustice, but more power to ya’ son. I’m afraid you’re up for a very, very rude awakening, but please don’t whine about it when it happens.
My job makes me 7 times more likely to die than the police or fire fighters on the list of the 20 most dangerous jobs in America. Now because I’m much more likely to die on the job, does that give me license to kill on performing my job and not answer for it? Does the increased likelihood of my dying on the job grant me at least as much deity status in your eyes as the police? Since that seems to be your measure of who should get away with killing people, surely I have a right to demand the same consideration.
You see how utterly stupid that sounds???
So because the deputy put his life on the line, in your view, he has the right not to be held accountable for his actions.
And in fact, by your world view, not only do we not have a right to hold them accountable for this questionable death, but we are suppose to thank them for killing this man.
No son, you haven’t convinced me yet you are familiar with the concept of thought.
Amos I’m not going anywhere, son. You keep posting these stupid things and I’ll keep coming back telling you how stupid they are.
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Posted by ( amos jackmon ) on April 25, 2008 at 9:21 pm
The culture of victimization is all we have in this country. We were oppressed so we are the victims, the oppressors are always at fault. We suffered so our hands are out, fill them, you owe us. We will not thank you but your contribution could be accompanied by an apology. We are tired of being judged by the color of our skin, but we will vote for a candidate for just that reason. Think before I speak? I’m thinking of the word “Compliance” I can comply or resist, however if I resist I am now committing a crime, subdue me, if you hurt me I will sue. Doesn’t this logic seem twisted beyond comprehension?
The people of Amherst County owe them nothing, they do however owe these deputies gratitude for putting their lives on the line in this twisted, thankless world. Google that son.
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Posted by ( poet ) on April 25, 2008 at 11:23 am
Amos, go find the quote were I said you were white. I don’t care if you are or not, that’s not the subject. The subject is if this man was white we would not be having this conversation.
It’s called reading comprehension, son.
I’ve already said it takes a tremendous amount of stupidiy to say a family whose had a member killed is just out for the money. For you to come back and actualy try to justify that only serves to prove that you are not only incredibly stupid, but heartless as well.
So this man’s life and the family is not even news worthy huh? I don’t care if you’re white, black,or green, son, that’s just plain ignorant.
How dare you say such a thing about this family. Maybe you googled their hearts and mind?
Did you know that being victimized is actually something that can happen? Only a mindless fool can say they are tired of society bending to the will of the victim. People are victims of the police. Google that, son, or ignore it like you are wont to do, but it doesn’t change it. And people have a right to have it addressed.
I stand by my post. If anything happens to you at the hands of the police and you go get a lawer, or sue, or raise a fuss for not getting action, then you are indeed a liar, a hypocrite and a money lover.
That’s what you’re saying about this family for seeking justice. Certainly one that doesn’t need to be lectured would not hold themselves to a lesser standard.
I repeat, does the concept of thinking ever occur to you?
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Posted by ( amos jackmon ) on April 24, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Well I don’t need a lecture about the police being “The police are not deities wrap in pure white fleece woven with innocence.“ I was raised in downtown D.C. Prince George’s County, at the time the police brutality capitol of the U.S. ‘nuff said. No need to get in touch with the DA’s office poet, google is a great search engine, give it a shot. I’m not ignorant, a liar, a hypocrite or a money lover. Of course they want to capitalize on this, like most of our society they just go for the gold, hey it’s the old “I’m gonna get mine’s” mentality. The color of their skin has no bearing on anything, if a subject resists arrest he should be subdued with extreme measures if necessary, the fact that he died was unfortunate but purely accidental. Would there have been any uproar if this individual had been able to seize one of the deputies weapon’s and turn it against them? I think it’s a sad shame that after all this time it’s even newsworthy, much less still in litigation. By the way, what makes you so sure I’m white? Don’t presume to lecture me on what I’ve lived and know. I’m so incredibly sick of seeing society bend over to the culture of victimization, the criminals blame the law, never mind the fact they actually committed a crime. In the same situation I assure you 15 million dollars would be the furthest thing from my mind. How about you poet, would the money make it all better?
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Posted by ( poet ) on April 24, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Oh Amos, you’ve shown the rest of us the light. You’ve been in tocuh with the DA’s office right? You have information that all the rest of us can’t get, because you’re in the know right?
Listen my man, police abuse happens. All you have to do is read. The police are not deities wrap in pure white fleece woven with innocence. There are many cases of false police reports also. The police are not judge and jury and the public is not obligated to accept any and everything they do ro say. You many be willing to sit back and not want answers (oops, my bad, you have all the answers), but I’m not.
For you to say all the family wants is money is so utterly stupid its a shame.
So the family woke up one day with this plan to bilk money out of the county, huh. Pray tell oh wise one, how did they plot this out? They don’t hurt, they don’t want justice, they love the idea that their loved one got killed, otherwise how could they make a living. One has to be ignorant beyond belief to make such assertions. God knows I hope nothing like this ever happens to a member of your family, but if it does, I implore you to hold yourself to the same standard as you hold this family. You must remain silent, and shrug it off as he/they deserved it. And if you get a lawyer or file a civil suit to get answers, then you must be a liar, hypocrite, or money lover.
Does the concept of thought ever enter your mind before you open your mouth?
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Posted by ( amos jackmon ) on April 24, 2008 at 9:08 am
They don’t need any more explanation than what was in the police report. Bottom line, this man resisted arrest violently and was subdued. Unfortunately he suffocated while being subdued, had he stopped resisting he wouldn’t have suffocated is what I’m thinking. The motivation for the lawsuit is nothing more than the family seeing a way to try to get 15 million dollars from whitey. When they told him to get on the ground he should have probably gotten on the ground. His race has nothing to do with anything, If a white man would have violently resisted he would have been subdued with equal force. If I were a deputy who had a family and a strong desire to return home from work every night, a subject violently resisting would have been tasered until he was blowing spit bubbles and reciting the alphabet.
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Posted by ( m.paul.valois ) on April 24, 2008 at 7:33 am
I’m not disagreeing with you, poet.
As I’ve repeatedly stated, the public needs more information and there is no doubt that Mr. Taylor died under suspicious circumstances. And I certainly understand the racial overtones. However, Kim White is not the lady to look to while there is pending litigation. She is bound by professional ethics to avoid making a public statement that could taint a jury pool.
I’d be the first one to support a federal investigation of this death. THIS is what the News & Advance should be calling for.
The paper has treated Ms. White unfairly. It stated that Ms. White has been sitting on the investigation for three years. This is simply not true - Ms. White has only had the investigation for a year. Also, Ms. White has reported her conclusions to officals in Amherst, exactly as she was supposed to.
Most importantly, Ms. White HAS opened her files to Mr. Taylor’s family and she HAS responded to the News & Advance’s FOIA request. Funny how the editorial “forgot” to mention these little tidbits.
This is yellow journalism at its worst.
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Posted by ( Cosmo Wafflefoot ) on April 24, 2008 at 6:23 am
Right (m.paul), But floating the picture, FOR THREE YEARS, of a Black man lurking in a White neighborhood who perhaps had a history of drug abuse is fine. Your motives are clear. There is no position you will not assume to kiss the behinds of prosecutors. You are a defence attorney by mistake. The fact that you are incapable of answering, honestly, one simple question proves it. “if this homicide involved 5 black men and a dead white deputy…. would we still be waiting? Or, would we be hearing demands for rapid executions?” Your silence speaks volumes with regard to your character.
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Posted by ( m.paul.valois ) on April 23, 2008 at 6:05 pm
cosmo wrote: “please stop with the “jury pool” nonsense”
From the Virginia State Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct:
Rule 3.6 (a) “A lawyer participating in or associated with the investigation or the PROSECUTION or the defense of a criminal matter that may be tried by a jury shall not make or participate in making an extrajudicial statement that a reasonable person would expect to be disseminated by means of public communication that the lawyer knows, or should know, will have a substantial likelihood of interfering with the fairness of the trial by a jury.“
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