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UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — The family of a 19-year-old man found strangled in his cell a day after he was jailed on charges of running over and killing a police officer is “outraged” over his death, their attorney said Tuesday.
Ronnie White’s death is being investigated as a homicide by the FBI and Maryland state police. He died Sunday in the Prince George’s County Correctional Center from asphyxiation and strangulation, the state medical examiner said.
Officials said seven guards had access to White at the time of his death, as did an unspecified number of supervisors. Authorities are also investigating whether anyone from the outside had access to the inmate.
Bobby G. Henry Jr., the attorney representing the inmate’s family called for “a thorough and exhaustive investigation.” The family is “absolutely, unequivocally outraged and incensed and deeply saddened for the loss of life of their loved one,” he said.
He angrily denounced the actions that led to White’s death, saying the perpetrators “took it upon themselves to be both the judge, the jury and the executioner.”
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VIDEO: Press Conference from the Family Attorney of Ronnie White
VIDEO: Statement from Prince George’s Co. State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey on the White Investigation
VIDEO: County Executive Jack Johnson speaks to the media
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State police are leading the investigation into White’s death at the request of county officials. The FBI is focusing on possible civil rights violations.
“If we have vigilante justice, our society will fall apart,” Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson said at a news conference Monday.
Johnson said that he believes the death was “unrelated to any act by the Prince George’s County Police Department.”
Curtis Knowles, president of the corrections officers’ union, said he was working that day but not in the unit. Officers involved in monitoring the inmate told Knowles that they came to feed White, tapped on the window and yelled through a slot in the door, but White didn’t reply. They went in and shook White, but he didn’t respond, Knowles said.
June White-Dillard, head of the Prince George’s branch of the NAACP, said that she was pleased the FBI was investigating the case but disturbed by the nature of the death of the inmate.
“No one should have had access to him that could have caused him harm,” she said.
White was found on the floor of his cell at the Prince George’s County jail at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with no pulse, according to officials. Jail medical staff who treated him reported no visible signs of trauma on his body, and he was declared dead an hour later at a hospital.
Henry said White’s family wasn’t immediately contacted about the death. It was not until several hours after he died that the family was told to go to the hospital to identify the body, Henry said. When the family arrived, they were told the body was not there. Instead, it had been taken by the medical examiner to Baltimore for an autopsy.
White had been held by himself in maximum security since he arrived at the jail around 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
He was charged with first-degree murder in the death Friday of Prince George’s County Cpl. Richard Findley, 39, during a traffic stop in Laurel. Findley, who was part of a team investigating car thefts, was killed after he got out of his cruiser and was dragged by a truck, which had been reported stolen. Authorities said White was driving the truck.
Gov. Martin O’Malley ordered the state flag be flown at half-staff until sunset Thursday in memory of Findley, a 10-year veteran of the county police.
White was one of four people taken into custody by police after the truck was found at a nearby apartment complex shortly after Findley was killed. The three others were questioned and released, according to Officer Henry Tippett, a county police spokesman.
White received medical and psychological assessments that jail officials said did not uncover any problems. He was placed in maximum security cell because he was considered a “high profile offender.”
Guards checked him every half hour. At 10:15 a.m. he was sitting on the side of his bunk and was alert, according to a timeline provided by jail officials. But fifteen minutes later, he was found unresponsive.
There have been several problems recently at the county jail, including a former police corporal convicted of murdering a man who was found with a handcuffs key. The county’s director of corrections was fired in early June when four handguns went missing from the jail armory.
16 responses so far ↓
1 bryan // Jul 1, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Fox,
I think it is rediculous how people think this is a racial issue. People use “racial issue” as a reason for when they can figure something else out. Also, this man killed a law obiding U.S. citizen whom was a police officer, and you want to defend him, the man who killed the person who took his life in vane just to protect people who he didnt even know? That is a mistake. That is what I think. Thanks for your time.
Bryan
2 concerned citizen in MD // Jul 1, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I’m SO sick of hearing “THIS ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE HE/SHE WAS BLACK”. BS! I’m sorry, you killed someone, you DESERVE to be in jail! Did the ‘man’ deserve to be killed by someone at the jail? No, but not because he was black, because it wasn’t right. I’m sorry, LOTS of crime is committed by black and other minorities, and that is why they are disproportionately(sp?) represented in jail, not because of their race. Just like in VA where all the illegals are fighting the new laws to restrict them. WELL HELLO, YOU HAVE -NO BUSINESS- BEING HERE!!! If you don’t like our laws, LEAVE BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM!!!! Don’t get me going on that, I could go on for hours.
3 john // Jul 1, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Fox,
This cannot be construed as a racial issue. Mr. White killed a cop; he was a cop-killer. No matter black or white, bad things usually happen to cop-killers. The only reason that this is seen as a racial issue is because you as a network are proposing it as one. The ACLU is taking advantage of the situation that you are advocating. That is their right, but your network does not need to be promoting their reckless cause. As for Mr. White’s murder, my condolences to his family, but I feel that if a police officer is guilty, no conviction will occur soon because of the nature of the situation. That is not true American justice, but even so this is still not a racial issue. Thank you for the opportunity to respond.
John
4 Dllyr // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I hear you guys saying this is a cop killer. Yes, looks really bad. But you’re sick if you excuse this vigilante behavior! I hope you one day get caught up in charges for something and a cop makes it his decision to kill ya… right then and there. You’re sick! I really wouldn’t wish that on anyone but you all who have posted here so far are crazy!
5 Wild Cleotis // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:45 pm
this isn’t a racial case, this is a police state case. a case where pigs go wild with their power. a case where they must pay as criminals.
6 Trent Jourdain // Jul 1, 2008 at 10:15 pm
As an African American male about the age of Mr. White, kudos to Mr. White. Anytime a police officer is killed is a good day in my book! They hate us with extreme prejudice and you can bet that it is mutual. It is justtoo bad that he couldn’t have taken out a couple more of the racist racial-profiling, harassing bastards!!!
7 PGirl // Jul 1, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Since we’re talking about the outrage of Mr. White’s family can we mention that I’m outraged that this whole story is now focused on poor Mr. White who met his demise in a jail cell on charges of killing a police officer?
Officer Findley lost his life doing a job that few of us would even think of doing. He was also a firefighter and a contributing member of society. Whether you like cops or not, his wife and children will suffer for Mr. White’s action. I’m not sure how Mr. White contributed to his family but I can’t see that his death will be felt so deeply as the fallen officer.
8 Garrett watson // Jul 2, 2008 at 5:45 am
To Mr. Jourdain police do not hate you, you ignorance and hate for police shows though, Kama is a b**c and Mr. White got what he deserved in the end unfortnely he did not stand trial and get sentenced to death. He killed a HERO, who had served his community as a fire fighter and police officer for 20 years, Officer Findley saved people and did not care what color they were and Mr, white killed him because he wore a blue uniform and as a law enforcement officer we do not hate any body but the scum of the earth that prey on innocent people. Mr Jourdain is that you?
9 no pity 4 killers // Jul 2, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I just want to know why THERE WAS NEVER AN ARTICLE ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE POLICE OFFICER?
Seems to me this site is proving how racist it really is.
There has not been one post about the actual killing of Officer Findley. ONLY His killers murder.
And this site isn’t racist?
10 Trent Jourdain // Jul 5, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I laugh at the ignorance of Garret Watson. Of course police hat African Americans, denying that is as simplistic as saying that the earth is still flat, are you in denial sir? Are you surprised at my hatred for police? You shouldn’t be, hate begets hate. Do you think that the police can harass, abuse and intimidate African Americans with reciporcating that same hatred. Get your head out of the sand ostrich. I am a college student, not a predator of the innocent as you imply.. OF COURSE YOU WOULD IMPLY HAT WOULDN’T YOU? Doesn’t surprise me one bit, if we don’t honor these scumbag cowards with badges and guns then we are automatically offenders. Typical police-think. I will gladly trade a loser’s life like Mr. White for the death of this police officer. And let me restate Mr. Garret, Mr Police Officer, Mr Serve and Protect and break a Black Man’s Neck. I don’t hate you because you are obviously a bury the head in the sand white man, no, not at all, I don’t care if this dead freaking cop was Balck, Latino or Asian, the color, the only color that I hate is The Blue Uniform, you racist sob’s. If you die in the so-called line of duty tomorrow Mr Police Officer, I will celebrate your passing. Christ, if I am victim of crime, the last people I would ever call is a freaking cop, ehy get victimized twice. Do you think that my perception of the police is individual? If you do then you are as stupid as your line of work indicates that you are. From African American attorneys to doctors to blue collar workers, there is not one Black male over the age of 16 who has not been harassed by you. We might as well be Palestinians and you the IDF. And you wonder why we hate you. Read, educate your self cop, stop drinking the Kool-Aid!
11 no pity 4 killers // Jul 5, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I guess the Police hate those other 2 African Americans who I BET killed that delivery boy and then bought beer with his credit card.
When will the Black Community quit being f’n animals to everyone? You want to be treated equal?? Well how about proving you are instead of primates!
My GOD your a violent disrespectful to life race!
You break the damn law and complain that the cops don’t like you. STOP COMMITTING ALL THE CRIME!
12 john // Jul 6, 2008 at 11:03 pm
To Mr. Jourdain,
Please go to school tomorrow and immediately request for your money back. Based on the verbage and grammar quality of your postings, you are obviously learning absolutely nothing from school. It seems the only thing that your university is promoting is bigotry and hate from your perspective rather than a quality unbiased education. You justify your ignorant postings with your college “education,” however your lack of intellect is quite evident, thus making your posts sound that much more rediculous.
John
13 sloelover // Jul 7, 2008 at 7:43 am
It really bothers me that 2 lives have been lost ..on 1 hand we have a white police officer who was doing his job…protecting the public whether they are black or white and we have a 19 yr old blck man who lost his life because someone decided to take the law in their own hands..we don’t have a racial issue here..lets call it as it is .we have a crime issue,,it wasn’t racial when a PG county cop shot 2 black men in his home resulting in the death of one of them so don’t make it a racial issue now….its purely a fact of people having no respect for a human life…i hurt for the officers family and i hurt of the accused family..either way a life has been lost and no matter what happens after this,,,neither will be back…as a 55 yr old black man i know and remember being subject to some injustices especially growing up in the inner city but i don’t hate the police…i just hate reading how insensitive people are 2 the fact that 2 lives were lost …and all because of what…someone didn’t want to go to jail and someone else decided to take the law in their own hands…my prayers and thoughts are with both families…forget their color..
14 grace // Aug 27, 2008 at 6:44 pm
omg thats all i can say that is so sad i’m mean like the people that wanted 2 continue there lives can’t i would hate 2 be i that condition i’m mean like i’m speehless.
15 IM black N proud // Sep 1, 2008 at 1:56 am
FUCK ALL YALL WHO SAY ITS NOT A RACIAL ISSUES AND THAT HE WAS A COP KILLER U DIDNT KNOW JACK SHIT ABOUT HIM, IM PRETTY SURE THE PEOPLE WHO SAY ITS NOT A RACIAL ISSUE IS WHITE SO U DONT KNOW WHATS IT LIKE TO BE BLACK IN A WORLD THAT ONLY EXCEPT WHITES TRY TO BE BLACK CHANGE YOUR SKIN LIKE MICHEAL JACKSON DID FUCK YALL BITCHES. YALL DONT KNOW SHIT WHAT IT LIKE TO BE BLACK. IF A WHITE MAN KILL A BLACK MAN HES A FUCKIN HERO. TRY IT N FIND OUT WHATS IT LIKE TO BE BALCK.
16 BLACK // Sep 1, 2008 at 2:02 am
WHITE PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES TO YALL WANT TO BLOW UP SHIT AND CHOP UP PEOPLE AND EAT THEM. U KNOW WHAT WE STILL DONT GET TREATED EQUAL THANKS TO YALL WHITE FUCKERS HELLO RACISM STOPPED YEARS AGO> GET OVER THE COLOR OF SKIN> THATS THE ONLY DIFFRENCE BETWEEN OTHER RACES IS OUR FUCKIN SKIN WE ALL HAVE EYES NOSES EAR> FUCK THE WHITES WHO DONT WANT TO CHANGE. IT SAD BOTH OF THEM HAD TO LEAVE THIS PLACE LIKE THAT.
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