Body Digicam Video Reveals Virginia Deputies Slammed 77-Yr-Outdated Man Into Truck, Tackled Him – NBC4 Washington

Newly released body camera video reveals deputies in Warren County, Virginia, slammed a 77-year-old man right into a pickup truck and tackled him to the ground. He died 13 days later.

The Warren County Sheriff's Office originally mentioned Ralph Ennis had fallen over the trailer hitch of his truck and hit his head during the arrest on April 2 exterior a 7-Eleven close to Front Royal. Deputies had pulled him over for driving erratically and rushing, authorities mentioned.

The sheriff's office stated Ennis had non-life threatening injuries after the autumn.

Nonetheless, physique digital camera video from a Front Royal police officer who was at the scene exhibits a Warren County deputy run toward Ennis, who appeared to be stumbling round. The deputy then grabs Ennis and slams him face-forward into the again of Ennis' purple pickup truck, which had a camper top attached. Then, he and another deputy seem to deal with Ennis to the ground.

"Get on the ground!" one deputy is heard yelling.

Throughout the tackle, Ennis and the deputies seem to trip over the truck's trailer hitch.

The Front Royal officer will be heard saying in the physique camera video, "That was … unjust and … un[expletive] known as for."

Medics took Ennis to a hospital. Ennis’ spouse Linda Ennis said doctors told her he had a brain bleed. He died on April 15.

She mentioned the physique camera video showed a different situation than what the sheriff's workplace had beforehand informed her.

"It was very difficult to observe. I want that I hadn't watched it now," she said.

Linda Ennis stated her late husband had just lately begun combating dementia and was the topic of a Silver Alert in mid-March.

Warren County Sheriff Mark Butler informed News4 he stands by the initial statement his workplace released.

The Front Royal officer's report mentioned, however, the deputy "jerked the male around" and "slammed the male into the camper high face first."

"It was method overkill. Simply - none of that was crucial," Linda Ennis said.

The medical examiner has not released Ennis' reason for demise.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office said deputies started following Ralph Ennis that morning because he was going 63 in a 55 and driving erratically. The sheriff's office mentioned he didn’t come to stop until about 4 miles.

Ennis adopted instructions to get out of the truck, but then refused orders to drop his keys and put his arms behind his again, the sheriff's office stated.

Virginia State Police are investigating the arrest.