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Jasper sheriff defends deputies against accusations of excessive force in man’s death

By George Hale

Posted September 23, 2024

Indiana State Police are investigating the death. (FILE: WTIU News)

The sheriff in Jasper County is pushing back against allegations his deputies overreacted to a medical emergency and caused a man to die.

Sheriff Pat Williamson is accusing an attorney representing the family of 26-year-old Rhyker Earl of spreading “gross falsehoods.”

Williamson said his deputies responded to a medical emergency near DeMotte on Sept. 8 and opted to restrain Earl as he resisted medical personnel. He said deputies placed Earl in handcuffs after he failed to respond to pleas to remain calm.

Earl became unresponsive and died two days later in the hospital.

“Compounding this tragic event, an attorney representing the family issued a press release full of inaccuracies about what happened that evening. In an apparent attempt to set the table for a civil claim, he has gaslit this community and the nation with gross falsehoods concerning the actions of our deputies,” the sheriff said in a statement.

The attorney, Ben Crump, previously accused the sheriff’s deputies of staying on top of Earl for more than 15 minutes with his face in a pillow. He called on the sheriff’s office to release body cam footage of the incident.

“Rhyker Earl’s death should never have happened. His family called for medical help, but instead, they watched in horror as law enforcement escalated the situation and used excessive force,” Crump said in a statement.

“We demand full transparency and accountability in this investigation, including the immediate release of body cam footage. Rhyker’s family deserves justice, and we will not rest until those responsible are held accountable for this preventable tragedy.”

Sheriff Williamson is refusing to release the body cam footage until the Indiana State Police has finished its independent investigation. Williamson says he reviewed the footage and is satisfied the deputies acted appropriately.

In its own statement, the Indiana State Police said the investigation was still active “and at this time, we have no additional information to release publicly.”

Crump's office didn't immediately respond to inquiries over the weekend.