By Megan Matteucci
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DEKALB, Ga. — DeKalb County police officers were justified to use Tasers on two unruly suspects who later died, investigators said Wednesday.
The police department’s Internal Review Board cleared the officers of any wrongdoing, according to a report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The board, which is made up of investigators, reviewed the evidence and voted unanimously to clear all of the officers involved.
The board voted that no policies or procedures were violated, and there were no safety concerns in either incident, according to the report.
“As chief of police, I stand behind the use of the Taser as an alternative to deadly force. While both of these incidents were extremely unfortunate in that they resulted in death, I know my officers followed the proper protocols,” Chief William O’Brien said.
In July, the DeKalb medical examiner ruled the deaths of Audrecas Davis and Sukeba Jackson-Olawunmi as homicides. Both died in separate incidents in May after being repeatedly tased by DeKalb officers. Police said both were combative and failed to comply with officers’ commands during the incidents.
Prosecutors are still reviewing the cases, said Orzy Theus, spokesman for the district attorney.
Autopsies found that Davis and Jackson-Olawunmi were under the influence of drugs and had prior medical conditions, including obesity, medical examiner Pat Bailey said.
Davis, 29, died May 10 from cardiorespiratory arrest and had caffeine, nicotine and chemicals found in marijuana in his system. He also suffered from hypertension and sickle cell disease, according to the medical examiner.
Jackson-Olawunmi, 40, died May 15 of a cocaine-induced delirium, the medical examiner said.
In addition to cocaine, she had blood pressure medication in her system to treat her hypertension.
Davis’ family is reviewing the reports and trying to determine whether they should file a lawsuit, said their lawyer, Stephen D. Apolinsky.
“On behalf of the Davis family, we are disappointed with the DeKalb Police Department’s Internal Review Board ruling, but we are not surprised,” Apolinsky said in a statement. “Mr. Davis did not have narcotics in his system . . . He would be alive today, but for the repeated tasing.”
Jackson-Olawunmi’s family could not be reached for comment.
Copyright 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution