Cops accused of ‘crushing’ 32-year-old dad to death in TN traffic stop, suit says
A man died following a traffic stop in Tennessee when officers held him face-down on the ground and sat on him, “essentially crushing him to death,” according to a new lawsuit.
The family of 32-year-old Daniel Russell is suing two deputies with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and two officers with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency after they say Russell’s heart stopped during an arrest in April 2024 and he died.
Body camera footage showed Russell’s arrest, as well as officers’ realization he had become unresponsive as they held him on the ground.
“The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is aware of a lawsuit in which two TWRA law enforcement officers are named as defendants,” the agency said in a statement. “The incident occurred while the officers were assisting a local Sheriff’s Office. As this matter is currently in litigation, the Agency will not comment on the specifics of the case.”
McClatchy News also reached out to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office for comment April 25 but did not immediately receive a response.
An autopsy revealed Russell’s cause of death was “cardiopulmonary arrest during law enforcement subdual and restraint with back compression,” according to the lawsuit filed in federal court April 17 on behalf of Russell’s young daughter.
Deadly arrest
Deputies with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office said they got a call about a reckless and possibly impaired driver on April 20, 2024 and found a car driving in the grassy median.
The driver, later identified as Russell, was accused of fleeing law enforcement, driving on the wrong side of the road before officers boxed him in.
The lawsuit describes the incident as a “low speed” pursuit.
Body worn camera footage shared by David Randolph Smith & Associates, the law firm representing Russell’s family, shows officers get out of their vehicles with guns drawn.
The video shows Russell get out of the car and lower himself to the ground, and a struggle ensues to arrest him.
Law enforcement said he resisted arrest, leading them to use “less lethal options” to take him into custody.
A deputy used a Taser and pepper spray while Russell was on the ground “despite Russell’s apparent confusion and impairment,” the lawsuit says.
Russell displayed signs of methamphetamine use, according to the filing.
The footage shows officers holding him on the ground and trying to grab his hands, then one deploys a stun gun as Russell could be heard yelling for them to stop because he has heart problems.
One officer sat on Russell’s back and restrained him as he lay on his stomach while another held his hand on Russell’s upper back, the footage shows.
In the video, officers are seen holding him face-down on the ground for minutes as he’s handcuffed until they realize he’s unresponsive and call medical personnel over.
“Within minutes, Russell became unresponsive, and (an officer) administered two doses of Narcan, incorrectly assuming an opioid overdose, while no officer initiated CPR or proper airway management,” the lawsuit says.
EMS on scene attempted lifesaving measures until Russell was pronounced dead at a hospital, the sheriff’s office said.
Family sues
The four law enforcement officers are accused of using excessive force in violation of Russell’s civil rights.
The lawsuit also cites the municipality of Henry County, saying law enforcement should be trained to know the risks of positional asphyxia, which family says led to Russell’s death.
Family wrote in Russell’s obituary that he went by DJ and worked at a tire shop.
“DJ loved riding around with his daughter ... and singing songs together,” family said. “He enjoyed swimming and going to the river. He was always helping and serving others.”
Henry County is in northwestern Tennessee on the border with Kentucky.