Determination Made in New London PD Custody Death

The State’s Attorney Judicial District of New London determined that physical force was justified in a case where an apparently mentally-ill man got into a prolonged confrontation with police.

Lashano Gilbert went into cardiac arrest while being transported from holding cell to the hospital for physical and mental evaluation after he became combative with officers following his arrest.

An autopsy report found the cause of death was, “...physical altercation including restraint, electric shock and pepper spray, during acute psychosis complicating sickle cell hemoglobinopathy and the manner of death homicide.”

Police first encountered Lashano Gilbert on Oct. 3, 2014 after a resident reported him acting strange and talking in tongues while waving his arms around. Gilbert had been staying with his aunt after coming from Canada, according to the State’s Attorney report.

Police talked to Gilbert who said people could get the wrong idea about him because he prays in strange tongues. Officers determined he wasn’t a danger to himself or others and there was no criminal complaint against him so he was released.

Later in the day a witness reported seeing Gilbert on Williams and Broad streets. He jumped head first into the driver side window of a vehicle stopped at a light.

The woman whose car Gilbert jumped into called police and said that Gilbert jumped into her car and was talking gibberish and pretending to stab her.

Officers arrived on scene and saw the woman signaling for assistance while she was being assaulted, according to the report.

Gilbert then ran out of the vehicle and toward an officer while flailing his arms. The officer deployed his Taser, which caused Gilber to fall to the ground. He remained uncooperative when officers were attempting to take him into custody, police said.

The Taser video recorded the interaction, according to the report. Gilbert can be heard saying that a ghost jumped out of a cemetery and went into his stomach and he jumped in the woman’s car to try and get help. He said the ghost demanded he go to a cemetery in the Bahamas or he would kill him.

An ambulance was summoned and Gilbert had to be restrained because he was thrashing around. He was also combative at the hospital, but eventually settled down.

He was eventually discharged to police custody and kept in a holding tank. He became increasingly agitated and began to twist his clothing, which made police worry that he was attempting to harm himself. Police entered the holding area and advised him that he wouldn’t be able to call his attorney or family until he settled down.

Gilbert attempted to follow the officer’s out of the holding area and grabbed an officer’s Taser, ripping its battery out, according to the report.

Police then used a Taser twice in drive stun mode to attempt to get Gilbert to comply. Eventually five officers were able to get him under control and an ambulance was summoned to have him evaluated at a hospital due to the Taser use and his strange behavior.

Gilbert continued attempting to bite and spit at officers. An officer placed a towel over his head to prevent him from doing so, according to the report. Gilbert said he couldn’t breathe but he kept talking and an officer noticed that he was still breathing.

New London Fire Department ambulance personnel were advised that Gilbert had bitten one officer and earlier said he was HIV positive.

Gilbert stopped breathing inside the ambulance and his pulse grew weak and eventually stopped completely, according to the report. Personnel started CPR and CPR was continued in the emergency room at the hospital.

Several officers received minor injuries and were treated at the hospital.