WEEKS OF PROTESTING AND AT THE FAMILY’S REQUEST WE ARE NOW SEEING FIRST HAND VIDEO WH HAPPENED TO JOHN NEVILLE WHILE IN THE CUSTODY AT THE FORSYTH COUNTY DETENTION CENTE
THE FIRST VIDEO IS ABOUT 19 MINUTES LONG AND SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS IN JOHN NEVILLE’S CELL AFTER HE FALLS OFF OF THE TOP BUNK.
THE VIDEO SHOWS NEVILLE BEING DETAINED BY MULTIPLE DETENTION OFFICERS.
IT ENDS AS THE DETENTION OFFICERS ARE TRANSPORTING HIM TO ANOTHER CELL.
A NURSE IS CALLED PRIOR TO MOVING NEVILLE INTO ANOTHER CELL.
THE SECOND VIDEO PICKS UP THERE AND THEN SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEY PLACE NEVILLE FACE DOWN WITH HIS KNEES BENT TOWARD HIS BACK, RESTRAINED IN HANDCUFFS WHILE ON A MAT ON THE
GROUND BOTH VIDEOS ARE ABOUT 45 MINUTES LONG AND ARE DISTURBING.
WE WATCHED THEM IN OUR NEWSROOM TODAY AFTER WXII 12 NEWS JOINED A COALITION OF MEDIA ASKING A JUDGE TO RELEASE THE VIDEO THAT SHOWS WHAT UNFOLDED BETWEEN JOHN NEVILLE AND THE RESPONDING
CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AND A NURS HERE’S LEE ANNE DENYER WITH MORE.
AND AGAIN THE VIDEO INCLUDED IN THIS STORY MAY BE DISTURBING FOR SOME VIEWERS.
>> GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES, JOHN.
REPORTER: IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF TWO VIDEOS , ONE RELEASED WEDNESDAY, CAPTURED IN DECEMBER 2019 AT THE FOR SAFE COUNTY JAIL, SHOWING
SOME OF THE LAST MOMENTS A MAN NAMED JOHN NEVILLE IS ALIVE.
>> DON’T FIGHT US.
IT IS OK.
REPORTER: YOU MUST GO BACK.
THIS IS JOHN NEVILLE.
HE DIED IN DECEMBER 2019 AFTER HE FELL FROM HIS BUNK.
THE HANDLING OF THAT MEDICAL EPISODE LED TO FIVE CORRECTION OFFICERS AND A NURSE FACING INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE >> MR. NEVILLE WOULD SUSTAIN
INJURIES THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE HIM TO LOSE HIS LIFE.
REPORTER: THIS IS THE FIRST VIDEO, RELEASED WEDNESDAY BY COURT ORDER.
>> I AM A NURSE.
YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN.
REPORTER: OVER THE 19 MINUTES 55 SECON VIDEO, NEVILLE CAN BE SEEN AFTER HIS FALL.
HE GOES IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
AT TIMES BECOMING COMBATIVE WITH RESPONDING STAFF WE HAVE TURNED AUDIO DOWN BECAUSE OF LANGUAGE DURING THE EXCHANGES.
>> WHAT IS THE MATTER, JOHN?
WHAT IS THE MATTER?
>> COME ON, COME ON.
COME ON.
MAMA.
MAMA REPORTER: STAFF TELL HIM HE IS HAVING A MEDICAL ISSUE.
AFTER 20 MINUTES HE IS PUT IN HANDCUFFS AND TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER ROOM.
A SPIT GUARD IS PUT OVER HIS HEAD AFTER AN OFFICER SAYS NEVILLE TRIED TO BITE.
THE SECOND VIDEO PICKS UP WHILE HE IS BEING MOVED.
THIS IS FROM THE BODY CAMERA OF ANOTHER OFFICER.
HE IS WHEELED TO A CELL AND PUT FACE DOWN ON A MATTRESS.
HE WILL STAY FACE DOWN FOR 12 MINUTES BEFORE HIS HANDCUFFS ARE REMOVED.
>> WE ARE GETTING THEM OFF.
>> PLEASE.
PLEASE.
REPORTER HE SAYS HE CAN’T BREATHE.
>> I CAN’T BREATHE, I CAN’T BREATHE.
>> YOU ARE TALKING.
REPORTER THE OFFICERS TELL NEVILLE HE NEEDS TO RELAX TO GET THE CUFFS OFF.
THE KEY BREAKS.
>> CUT IT LOOSE.
CUT IT LOOSE.
>> GET THE BOLT CUTTERS.
>> JOHN, I NEED YOU TO STOP.
NEED CUTTERS.
>> HE IS GETTING THEM.
JOHN YOU NEED TO SETTLE DOWN.
REPORTER ACCORDING TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER NEVILLE DIED FROM A BRAIN INJURY DUE TO CARDIAC ARREST, DUE TO ASPHYXIA DURING A PRONE RESTRAINT, WHICH IS BEING RESTRAINED IN THE
FACEDOWN POSITION.
IT TOOK STAFF TWO SETS OF BOLT CUTTERS TO REMOVE THE HANDCUFFS.
HE REMAINED FACE DOWN ON A MATTRESS AS THEY TRIED TO TAKE THEM OFF.
>> SINCE HE’S ASLEEP, SHOULD WE TAKE THE OTHER OFF WITH THE CUTTERS?
REPORTER THIS PROCESS GOES ON FOR ABOUT ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.
STAFF REMOVE THE CUFFS, HI JUMPSUIT, AND LEAVE THE CELL.
WXII 12 NEWS IS CHOOSING NOT TO SHOW THE REST OF THE VIDEO ON AI AFTER THIS MOMENT, THE NURSE GOES BACK INTO THE ROOM TO CHECK ON NEVILLE AND SAYS SHE CAN’
DETECT A HEART RATE.
SHE BEGINS CHEST COMPRESSIONS AS AN AED ARRIVES.
JOHN NEVILLE DIED IN T HOSPITAL TWO DAYS LATER ON DECEMBER 4, 2019.
TALITH THERE IS A LOT OF SENSITIVE MATERIAL IN THIS VIDEO AND IT IS HARD TO WATCH.