The FBI is investigating the death of a Black man in Alabama, who was found hanging in an abandoned house, following a request from a local sheriff amid fears among community members who accuse local law enforcement of longstanding, unchecked misconduct.
Sheriff’s deputies found Dennoriss Richardson, 39, in September in a rural part of Colbert County, miles away from his home in Sheffield, a city of approximately 10,000 people near the Tennessee River.
The Colbert County Sheriff’s Office ruled Richardson’s death a suicide. But Richardson’s wife, Leigh Richardson, has said that is not true, explaining her husband did not leave a note and had no connection to the house where he was found.
Instead, the 40-year-old fears her husband’s death was related to a lawsuit he filed against the local police department in February. Dennoriss Richardson, who coached kids in baseball and football, had alleged he was assaulted, denied medical attention, sprayed with tear gas and shocked with a Taser while in jail.
A city of 10,000. So basically a medium sized college. Which means the police are certain to “bump” into anyone who files complaints against them.
Almost like none of these local police forces are credible, in any capacity. The FBI needs to start disbanding them and barring their officers from public positions.
There’s no “reforming” a corrupt police force.
Southern ‘police’ are absolutely terrifying.
They are an absolute force in their own right, with 0 limitation or accountability, they are judge, jury and executioner as they see fit.
Sheffield is part of a group of cities that cluster together called “the shoals” with a population of around 160k.
Glad to hear the FBI is looking into it.