To follow up on yesterday’s story concerning the death of American Indian David Croud at the hands of Duluth, Minnesota police (see below), it now appears the medical examiners report will be available sooner then later.
Duluth Police Chief Roger Waller told a special meeting of the city's American Indian Committee on Monday that the medical examiner will shortly release his report on Croud's death.
The Washington County Attorney's office expects to decide whether any criminal charges are warranted by Croud's death after it receives all the reports on the case. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension gave its reports to Washington County last week.
Also, the ACLU of Minnesota announced yesterday that it will be representing Croud's family and raised the possibility of a civil lawsuit in the case. "The ACLU of Minnesota has commenced its ongoing investigation, which may lead to civil rights litigation in the Minnesota District Federal Court," a news release said. Chuck Samuelson, ACLU of Minnesota's executive director, said the Croud family and the Duluth American Indian Commission asked the group to take the case.
"We have the case of an American Indian man who was publicly intoxicated, was aggressively arrested by Duluth police officers and who died while in police custody at St. Mary's hospital," Samuelson told the News Tribune. "The ACLU of Minnesota is involved in other cases where American Indians seem to be the target of excessive police interest, and this just fit into what we perceive as a pattern."
Croud, 29, was taken off life support Oct. 18, six days after witnesses said police slammed him against a stone wall as they were arresting him.
To sign a petition demanding action in this case, go to http://www.petitiononline.com/Croud/petition.html
Sources: Duluth News Tribune, Star Tribune (Minniapolis-St. Paul)
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