Advocates Of Man Who Died In Police Custody Seek Special Meeting

STAMFORD, CT — The attorney representing the family of Steven Barrier, a 23-year-old city man who died after being taken into custody by Stamford Police last month, is again calling for an emergency meeting of the Stamford Board of Representatives to discuss city police policies following a response from the city's Corporation Counsel.

Last week, attorney Ben Crump, along with the Stamford branch of the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, sent a letter to the board, requesting a meeting to "address the policies, practices and protocols of the Stamford Police Department."

According to the Stamford Advocate, the city sent a response that stated the chief of police could not comment on the case due to it being an ongoing investigation by the Stamford State's Attorney's Office.

In a second letter sent to members of the board, Crump expressed disappointment in not hearing back from the board directly and said members were under no restrictions to discuss the case.

"While the chief of police may be unable to publicly address the case, the board has no such restrictions," the letter reads. "The BOR comprises elected leaders and policy makers with oversight responsibility over public safety and the police department, and you have a responsibility to ensure that the Stamford Police Department is operating in a manner that is protective of the safety of all people."

See also: Lawyer Of Man Who Died In Police Custody Wants Emergency Meeting

The letter one again called for an emergency meeting of the board to "evaluate the current practices, protocols and training of local law enforcement." It also states that if there was ever a time for such a review, it is now.

"There is no righting this terrible wrong," the letter reads, "but you have the power and the responsibility to ensure that the tragic events that led to the death of Steven Barrier are never repeated."

Board of Representatives President Matthew Quinones told the Stamford Advocate there was not much the board could do if they were unable to speak to those directly involved in the case, and said he thought the appropriate response, for now, was to "let the State's Attorney's investigation play out."

See also: Body Camera Footage Released Of Man Who Died In Police Custody: VIDEO

The letter comes a couple weeks after State's Attorney Richard J. Colangelo Jr., who is investigating the case, released body camera footage and a 911 call from the night of the arrest.

The footage and phone call reveal that a 911 call was received at 11:40 p.m., reporting a domestic violence incident involving Barrier at a home.

Barrier wasn't home when officers arrived, but police received text messages around 1:30 a.m. informing them he had returned to the house.

Barrier again fled when police responded, and officers chased him on foot. Barrier ran through several backyards and ended up at the Home Depot on West Main Street.

Colangelo said the body camera footage shows police taking Barrier into custody without incident. When asked to walk to a police car, Barrier told officers he was tired and was ultimately carried to a cruiser.

During the drive, Barrier asked for the air conditioning to be turned on, and an officer rolled down the car windows a bit.

After taking him out of the car, officers found that Barrier was unconscious and they carried him to a holding area. They requested medical emergency medical help, which arrived about six minutes later. Barrier was taken to Stamford Hospital, where he died at 3:10 a.m., Colangelo said.

The cause and manner of Barrier's death still has not been determined, however the medical examiner's preliminary findings indicated there is "no evidence of inflicted injuries," according to Colangelo. He also said there is no evidence a Taser was used by any Stamford Police officer.

See also: Stamford Mother 'Begging' For Answers About Son's Death

Two days after the incident, Barrier's mother, Valerie Jaddo, said she was "begging" for answers about her son's final moments during a news conference held at Bethel AME Church in Stamford. Clergy, elected officials and representatives of the NAACP's Stamford branch were also in attendance.

"Three days ago, my son needed help," Jaddo said during the news conference. "Instead of receiving help, he lost his life. I received the news that no mother should ever have to hear. I am left with a giant pain in my heart and a thousand questions about what happened."

Jaddo said her family was not casting blame or jumping to conclusions about what happened that morning, however they are demanding answers from the department.

"What happened between my son and police during their initial encounter?" Jaddo asked. "Was he tased? Was he in pain? Why did [officers] take my son to the police station when you should have taken my son to the hospital? Could all of this have been prevented? Did he ask for help?"

That same day, Mayor David Martin said in a statement he had invited community leaders, clergy, and members of the NAACP to his office a day prior to discuss the incident, along with Colangelo, Wuennemann and other officials.

Martin said he believed the community had the right to know what happened and would share all available information as soon as he was permitted by the State's Attorney's Office.

"The death of this man is an absolute tragedy," Martin said in a statement. "I sympathize with the grief his family is feeling."

Below is the full text of the second letter sent to Stamford's Board of Representatives on Nov. 13, 2019:

Dear Members of the Board:

We are in receipt of the Nov. 5, 2019, letter from the Corporation Counsel of the City of Stamford that you forwarded to us in response to our request for a special meeting of the Stamford Board of Representatives to address the death of Steven Barrier. We are disappointed that you failed to respond to us directly, and consider this to be unresponsive to our request.

While the Chief of Police may be unable to publicly address the case, the Board has no such restrictions. The BOR comprises elected leaders and policy makers with oversight responsibility over Public Safety and the Police Department, and you have a responsibility to ensure that the Stamford Police Department is operating in a manner that is protective of the safety of all people.

The Barrier family and the people of Stamford deserve answers, and, as their elected officials, it is your sworn duty to provide them. The Board, more specifically, the Public Safety & Health Committee, is tasked with monitoring activities of the Police, Fire, and Health Departments. The tragic death of Steven Barrier while in police custody demands that you honor that responsibility and evaluate the current practices, protocols, and training of local law enforcement. If ever there was a time for such review, it is now.

You have the opportunity and the imperative to be an agent of positive change for your constituents. We strongly urge you to call an emergency meeting of the Board, listen to the fears and frustrations that this tragedy has roused in the people you represent, and then, act “for the preservation of good order, peace and health, for the welfare and safety” of Stamford people, as your oath demands.

There is no righting this terrible wrong, but you have the power and the responsibility to ensure that the tragic events that led to the death of Steven Barrier, are never repeated.