Civil Rights Lawyer Crump To Represent Man Paralyzed In PD Custody

NEW HAVEN, CT —Civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump is now working with attorney Jack O’Donnell and the family of Richard "Randy" Cox, the 36-year-old New Haven man who was paralyzed in police custody.

"As Randy Cox continues to fight for his life and future, we will fight for justice for him, his family, and the New Haven community," Crump said in a statement. He, O'Donnell and Cox' family will hold a news briefing Tuesday outside the courthouse in downtown New Haven.

On Twitter, Crump wrote that "Cox continues to fight for his future."

"He’s paralyzed from the chest down and has to use a breathing tube," Crump said. "His quality of life is forever diminished. He needs accountability."

Acting police Chief Regina Rush-Kittle last week said officer Ronald Pressley, officer Jocelyn Lavandier, and officer Luis Rivera, all working at the jail Sunday, join officers Oscar Diaz and Betsy Segui pulled from duty while their conduct is under investigation.

Cox was arrested June 19 at a block party for allegedly carrying a weapon and other charges. While handcuffed in a police van en route to the New Haven police department's detention center, he suffered a serious head injury when officer Diaz, driving at around 36 MPH in a 25 MPH zone, stopped short to avoid a crash, which sent Cox flying, slamming head first into the van wall. The van does not have seatbelts.

A series of "disturbing" and graphic videos from police body-worn cameras, and other video footage that show that police officers ignored Cox's cries that he believed his neck was broken, paralyzing him. Police processed him for charges, and then dragged his body into a holding cell.

When the wagon arrives at the detention facility for Cox to be processed, he is lying limp in the vehicle, according to the video. Diaz had called for an ambulance, police said, but not to arrive at the scene of the near-crash, but rather at police headquarters, which is a several minutes drive away.

The officers waiting for the van in the sally port assemble to get Cox out of the van, the video shows. Diaz says he thinks Cox may be hurt. And Cox can be heard, softly asking for help.
"Help me. I don't want to die like this."

But according to the video, instead of helping, Segui barks orders at the man who is not moving. She shouts: "Sit up! You're not even trying! Turn your body. Sit up, stretch out! Come on, or we're gonna pull you out. You drank too much! Sit up!"

Officers drag Cox out of the van and try to hold him up, but he falls to the ground and then they put him in a wheelchair so he can be processed for the charges he faces. In the chair, he slides down to the floor: "I think my neck is broken," he can be heard telling cops.

After being booked, he's dragged to a cell by two officers and left on the ground with ankle cuffs placed on him, the video shows. Segui can be heard saying, "See? He's perfectly fine."

A total of five officers have been placed on leave pending the outcome of a Connecticut State Police investigation.

“Randy’s quality of life will forever be diminished by the irresponsible actions of Oscar Diaz and the other New Haven police officers while he was under their custody," Crump said. "Law enforcement respecting every life they interact with and are responsible for is imperative for building trust with the communities they serve, especially communities of color."

Warning: The video contains graphic images that may be disturbing for some readers.

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