ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Eyewitness News has learned two nurses were reprimanded and a third was terminated after a 75-year-old Orange County man died at the Orange County Jail.
William Howard died days after he was arrested last November after he was accused of stabbing his wife with a kitchen knife and hitting her with a shovel, deputies said. A medical examiner ruled his death a homicide. Eyewitness News reported about his death Monday.
An investigation into the correctional officers who used a take down technique on Howard is ongoing, Channel 9's Janine Reyes found out.
According to the autopsy report, while Howard was in custody, there was, "use of restraint force by law enforcement" that happened in jail two days before his death.
The medical examiner found a fractured vertebral disc and a crushing injury that caused hemorrhaging.
Howard’s family released a statement to Eyewitness News calling the take down was overly aggressive and unnecessary.
The statement, released by Butler Law Group, who is representing the family in a potential wrongful death lawsuit, said in a statement to Eyewitness News that Howard’s arrest happened "following a nervous breakdown." Neighbors echoed that belief and said the allegations against Howard did not sound like the man they knew.
The family said in the statement that they were “devastated as a result of this senseless loss.”
In a clearance letter from the Orange-Osceola County State Attorney’s office, prosecutors found that five correctional officers involved did not intentionally use deadly force against Howard. Prosecutors did not file charges against the officers and said, "Mr. Howard physically resisted during a 'takedown technique.'"
An official with the jail told Eyewitness News that the takedown technique is approved when taking down an inmate.
Howard’s family argues the technique is unnecessary and overly aggressive.
Eyewitness News asked jail officials what the takedown technique entails, but they have not responded to our requests.
#NEW pic of William Howard, killed after @OrangeCoFL correctional officers used a takedown technique family calls overly aggressive #WFTVat5 pic.twitter.com/ZmVpM6V68l
— Janine Reyes (@JReyesinTexas) May 23, 2017
NEW INFO #9Investigates is learning more about an elderly inmate who died after 5 guards used a "takedown technique" that killed him #WFTV pic.twitter.com/BtFVaY9EGg
— Janine Reyes (@JReyesinTexas) May 23, 2017
Here's the FULL RESPONSE from the Orange County Jail after #9Investigates elderly inmate's death https://t.co/Ao4uPeBwLe #WFTV pic.twitter.com/XSAC4Y0NPx
— Janine Reyes (@JReyesinTexas) May 22, 2017
JUST IN: 1 nurse terminated, 2 others reprimanded after death of 75-year-old inmate William Howard while in custody at Orange Co Jail #WFTV pic.twitter.com/279mNjx8tT
— Janine Reyes (@JReyesinTexas) May 22, 2017
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