Derek Williams
Derek Williams died in 2011 in the back of a Milwaukee police squad car, where officers had him handcuffed behind his back. Court records say he repeatedly told officers he couldn't breathe over about 15 minutes, and that officers did not call for medical help until after he slumped over, pulseless and not breathing. The Milwaukee County medical examiner's office classified his death as a homicide. His family's federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and officers was allowed to proceed in 2017, and the city's lawyers defend the officers' actions at the time.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed; neglect alleged). The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide; his family's federal lawsuit says officers ignored his repeated complaints that he couldn't breathe and did not call for medical help until after he slumped over, while the city's lawyers say the officers reasonably thought he was playing games.
Reported by: Milwaukee County medical examiner's office (medical examiner or coroner); his family's federal civil rights lawsuit (family or their lawyers); court records; the city's lawyers (the agency that held him).
Lawsuit: His family filed a federal civil rights suit against the city of Milwaukee and officers over his death, and in 2017 the suit was allowed to proceed, with the city's lawyers arguing the officers reasonably thought he was playing games; no settlement or award amount was reported.