Body Camera Footage Released in Indiana Man’s Death Following Medical Call

Body camera footage sparks debate as family questions law enforcement's role in the death of Indiana man following a medical emergency

Rhyker Earl, an Indiana man who died after being restrained by police while having a seizurePhoto byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

DEMOTTE, Ind. – Newly released body camera footage has shed light on a law enforcement encounter involving Rhyker Earl, a 26-year-old Indiana man, who died following a medical incident earlier this month. The footage has raised questions from Earl’s family, who believe his death may be connected to the actions taken by officers during the encounter.

The incident occurred on Sept. 8 when Earl, a father of two diagnosed with epilepsy, experienced a medical episode at his residence in DeMotte, Indiana. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) were called to assist Earl after he suffered a seizure. Later that evening, following a more severe episode, some of the same EMTs returned to the scene, accompanied by deputies from the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.

Family members and a subsequent lawsuit allege that during the interaction, law enforcement officers restrained Earl by pinning him to the floor. They claim Earl was handcuffed with his face pressed into a pillow, which they argue restricted his ability to breathe. Following the restraint, Earl was transported to a hospital, where he was placed on life support. He was removed from life support on Sept. 10 after medical tests confirmed there was no brain activity.

In a statement released after Earl’s death, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office provided limited details, only noting that deputies had responded to a medical call at the home and later learned that the individual had passed away. No mention was made of the physical interaction between Earl and law enforcement.

Earl’s family has retained national civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Indiana-based attorney Stephen Wagner to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. The family contends that the actions of law enforcement officers directly contributed to the fatal outcome.

Jasper County Sheriff Pat Williamson addressed the claims last week in a public statement, calling for clarity in the wake of what he described as "false or misleading claims" regarding the incident. Williamson stated that, after reviewing the body camera footage, he saw no evidence to support the claim that deputies had restricted Earl’s breathing during the restraint.

“In the body-worn camera video, Mr. Earl is seen forcefully banging his head on the floor,” Williamson said in a press release. “Deputies immediately asked the family for a pillow and placed it under his head to prevent Mr. Earl from injuring himself. His head was lying on the pillow; his breathing was not restricted.”

Williamson also explained that the deputies followed established training protocols while restraining Earl. He stated that officers restrained Earl by holding his legs, arms, and shoulders in a manner intended to prevent injury and avoid restricting his breathing. Additionally, Williamson pointed out that Earl remained vocal throughout the incident and that officers placed him in the recovery position to ensure his safety.

On Friday, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage from the encounter, fulfilling a commitment to make the footage available to the public once clearance was obtained from the Indiana State Police. The release included a total of 10 videos, nine of which showed unedited footage from the body cameras of the three deputies involved. A tenth video compiled these angles into a timeline of the incident.

“The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office committed to releasing body-worn camera video related to the incident involving 26-year-old Rhyker Earl as soon as the investigation conducted by Indiana State Police would allow,” a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post. “We feel it is critical that our community have as much information as possible and evaluate the incident independently of outside influences.”

In the same post, the Sheriff’s Office provided additional details about the Sept. 8 incident. The post stated that Earl was experiencing “mental difficulties” and exhibited “significant physical resistance” to medical personnel on the scene. The primary responsibility of the deputies, according to the statement, was to ensure that Earl did not harm himself or the EMTs present during the call.

The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the release of the body camera footage was not intended to draw conclusions about the actions taken during the encounter. “The independent investigation will draw those conclusions,” the spokesperson added.

As of now, an official cause of death has still not been determined. The Lake County Coroner’s Office is overseeing the investigation into Earl’s death and has indicated that it may take up to three weeks to complete a review of the autopsy, medical records, and toxicology results.

Earl’s family continues to push for answers, maintaining their belief that the actions of law enforcement played a role in his death. The case remains under investigation by Indiana State Police.