Eric Lurry Death: Glasgow Clears Joliet Police Of Crimes

JOLIET, IL —On Thursday evening, Joliet Police Sgt. Javier Esqueda told a Chicago television station that fellow officers appeared to have deliberately tampered with a squad car camera's audio system moments after slapping detainee Eric Lurry as he was dying in the backseat. Also Thursday, Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow issued a statement declaring that none of the Joliet officers involved in Lurry's late January in-custody death will be facing charges.

Glasgow's one-page letter indicates Lurry, 37, died Jan. 29 of an accidental drug overdose caused by Fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.

"Eric Lurry's death was caused by the ingestion of fatal amounts of heroin, Fentanyl and cocaine and did not result directly from any action or inaction by an officer of the Joliet Police Department," Glasgow's statement reads.

Meanwhile, Sgt. Esqueda has come forward this week announcing that he is the whistleblower who leaked the squad car videotape showing Lurry dying on Joliet police property.

The video shows Joliet Police Sgt. Doug May slapping Lurry in the head, calling him a bitch and obstructing Lurry's ability to breathe for nearly two minutes.

May oversees the Joliet Police Department's drug unit, according to the department website.

Esqueda maintains the actions of his fellow Joliet Police supervisors may have caused Lurry to suffocate to death while in the backseat of probationary officer Bill McCue's squad car.