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In May 2014, police officers of the Hayward Police Department in California initiated a traffic stop against driver James Greer for driving erratically. The police report of that incident states that Greer “got out of his vehicle but would not participate in a field sobriety test.” Greer was morbidly obese and suffered from a string of health issues, including a stomach hernia. The end result of the incident was Greer losing consciousness and dying at the scene. His family filed a lawsuit against the police department in 2015 and now new evidence has come to light.
Police body-cam footage of the stop was recently released that differs significantly from the police report and seems to back up the family’s charges. In the video, Greer is complying with the officer’s orders and attempting the test when other officers arrived on the scene and seemed to startle the man with their presence. Greer takes a few steps backward and the officer accuses him of trying to walk away. He is soon violently forced to the ground as officers pile on top of him pressing their knees and weight on his back. Greer repeatedly shouts “What are you doing, what are you doing” and is screaming in pain. Police then taze Greer at least three times and use a restraint device called “The Wrap” designed to safely immobilize a suspect. After about six minutes, Greer ceases to struggle and loses consciousness and the officers turn him over. Paramedics arrive and Greer is transported to a hospital and declared dead. A toxicology report showed PCP in his system. The medical examiner concluded he died from exerting himself while under the influence of PCP. Greer’s death bears a comparison to Eric Garner’s, who cried out “I can’t breathe” as NYPD officers administer a chokehold leading to his death.
The family maintains that the police hid the existence of this body-am footage which showed the officers acting in a way that led to the death of Greer. May 23, 2016, will mark the two-year anniversary of Greer’s death and his family and supporters will be holding a public rally to bring attention to the case.
