‘I want to know why’: Family of man who died in Rock Hill police custody seeks answers
The family of the Charlotte man who died in Rock Hill police custody wants answers.
Cedarian Crow, 36, was arrested Feb. 29 in connection with a domestic violence incident on Cypress Point Drive, said Lt. Michael Chavis of the Rock Hill Police Department. Crow became unresponsive upon arrival at the police department, Chavis said.
He was transported to the hospital where he later was pronounced dead, Chavis said. Crow was not charged because the medical emergency began, Chavis said.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating because Rock Hill police asked for an independent review of the incident.
Crow’s mother, Pamela Crow, said at a news conference Thursday at Rock Hill City Hall that she has not been able to see her son’s body. She was crying so hard, she had trouble speaking.
“I just want to know why he’s not coming home,” she said. “That’s what I want to know. I want to know why. They won’t let me see him. They won’t let me just put my eyes on him.”
Crow’s uncle, and pastor of Galilean Deliverance Community Church in Charlotte, Miquel Marion said no family member has been able to view the body and the family has not received answers on how and why Crow died. He said the family intends to seek police videos and other information.
“This life had meaning and purpose,” Marion said. “And to be gone and not get an answer as to even how — we don’t know whether he was shot, stabbed. We don’t know anything. We just know we’ve been told that a life has been lost.”
And several times, Marion repeated — “We just want answers.”
“Once again, we’re in a place that another person of color has lost their life in the custody of a police department,” he said. “Now, we have a family here that needs some answers.”
York County Coroner Sabrina Gast said her office does not allow families or loved ones to view or identify a body if there is the potential for criminal involvement in the case.
The reason is to make sure evidence is secured that any agency might need in an investigation, Gast said.
The coroner’s office is an agency independent of law enforcement, and has a duty to protect any evidence in a case, Gast said.
“Our job is to check how a person died through an independent investigation and maintain forensic evidence,” Gast said.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division spokesman Tommy Crosby said the investigation remains ongoing.
Crosby said it is unclear how long the investigation would take, as officials will need to include autopsy, toxicology, and other information.
Rock Hill police have deferred to SLED concerning the release of more information on the case. Rock Hill police are conducting an internal investigation.
At the news conference, Crow’s younger sister stood beside her mother and held a single brown boot. It was Crow’s. The boot nearly took up her whole arm.
“This is the boot of the young man,” said John Barnett, a Charlotte-based civil rights activist with the National Action Network. He pointed to the shoe.
“It was found in the trunk of his car. Really the only thing we have — as far as his family getting closure — is the boot.”
Family members said Barnett had been contacted to assist in getting information from law enforcement officials.
City Hall was filled with Crow’s family. His mother and aunt didn’t stop crying throughout the news conference. His siblings occasionally wiped away tears. And his young son just stared at the floor.
“How can me, being a mother, confirm that he doesn’t have any bruises, that he doesn’t have any scars because it’s the reason that he’s gone,” Pamela Crow said. “It’s the reason my boy’s not here right now.”
Crow has a 2008 conviction for assault on a female, and convictions in 2000 for communicating threats, possession of stolen goods and receiving a stolen vehicle, according to the N.C. Department of Corrections. North Carolina records do not show any convictions since 2008.
Pamela Crow banged her hand on the podium.
“He’s healthy,” she continued. “No jail time. He’s not a criminal. None of that. None of that. He’s not a criminal.”
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 3:08 PM.
