Questions were raised after 21-year-old Chavis Carter of Southaven killed himself while in police custody. Many people have wondered, "How could a man, who is double-cuffed, shoot himself in the head?"
Police say the video released answers that question and could be critical to the investigation.
Saturday, July 28, Jonesboro police officers stopped Carter, who was wanted on a warrant in DeSoto County.
Police say they searched Carter and found marijuana on him. After running his information, officers discovered the warrant.
After searching him a second time, he was handcuffed and put in the patrol car. Police say they missed the gun he had hidden in his pants.
What happened next is the source of controversy.
The police reenactment shows an officer, who matches Carter's height and weight, getting into a car with his hands cuffed. Within seconds, the officer is able to pull a hidden gun from his pants and place it to his right temple.
"We are comfortable to a certain degree at this point to say that our witness testimony and the evidence that we have gleaned from reviewing the videos, one supports the other," said Jonesboro Police Chief Michael Yates.
Even though the video shows it is possible that Carter shot himself, the two police officers involved in the arrest are on administrative leave until the investigation into the man's death is over.
The community, as well as the NAACP, is calling for a fair and thorough investigation.
"If you are such a great police department if you will, then this shouldn't be any problem with the FBI coming in and doing their job and vice versa," said Perry Jackson, Craighead County NAACP.
The FBI has been called in to help. The Jonesboro police chief turned over dash cam video and other evidence in cooperation of the investigation.
