Attorney in George Floyd case to represent family of Valpo man that died after alleged police restraint

Crump has represented the families of George Floyd, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton once called Crump "Black America's attorney general." At around 8:30 p.

m. on Sept. 8, Earl suffered a seizure at a home in Demotte.



After someone called 911 and officers from the Jasper County Sheriff's Department arrived among other first responders, they found Earl "confused and agitated." According to Stephen Wagner, an attorney from Carmel, Indiana, as Earl was trying to put shorts on to go to the hospital for more medical attention, he lost his balance and fell into an officer, according to previous Times reporting . Police then became aggressive, Wagner said, telling Earl, "You don't treat law enforcement that way.

" Earl's family members allege that officers then "forced Earl to the ground, handcuffed him, and pinned him face-down into a pillow," Crump's office said in a news release. "Despite his critical condition, Earl reportedly pleaded for his life before becoming unresponsive." Earl was declared brain-dead at the hospital and taken off life support on Sept.

10. "Rhyker Earl's death should never have happened," Crump said in a statement on Wednesday. "Rhyker's family deserves justice, and we will not rest until those responsible are held accountable for this preventable tragedy.

" Indiana State Police said Tuesday its Criminal Investigation Division at the Lowell Post is engaged in the investigation into the actions of the Jasper County Sheriff's Department. It also said it "is aware of information being shared on various social media sites about this case." "We request the public’s patience," ISP said, "as detectives will conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation.

" Police have yet to release body camera footage of their encounter with Earl on Sept. 8..