Union City, Tenn.—The death of a black man while in custody in March 2019 in Obion County is receiving national attention.
The New York Times, NBC News, CNN and other national news outlets published articles over the weekend about the death of Sterling Higgins while in police custody. Higgins was 37.
Lawyers for Higgins’ estate released video of his arrest on Friday. Higgins’ family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit accusing the police and county jail officials of causing Higgins’ death by using excessive force, asphyxiation caused by his restrains and failing to call for medical help. The case was filed in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Tennessee.
The incident began when Higgins called police for help, saying someone was following him.
According to the original press release about the incident issued by the Obion Co. Sheriff’s Office, Union City Police arrived at the jail with Higgins in custody about 1:44 a.m. and he was described as ‘uncooperative’ with the arresting officer and staff ‘to the point he assaulted staff members’. The press release said Higgins was subdued and shortly afterward EMS was contacted for medical assistance. It also said an investigation would be conducted into his death.
Lawyers for the estate have said officers held him down in a struggle at the jail, during which he was grabbed by the neck until he went limp. He was unconscious and foaming at the mouth and officers tied him to a chair and left him in a cell for about 14 minutes before medical help arrived, the lawyers said.
Higgins’ estate lawyers also said the video was never shown to the grand jury that investigated the incident.
Jennifer Jenkins filed the federal lawsuit in March naming Obion County, Union City, and individual officers. She is the administrator of the estate.
Protests were held in Union City after Higgins’ death.