Jonesboro PD Release Complete Chavis Carter Death Investigation File
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: September 13, 2012
Jonesboro police released the entire case file of from the Chavis Carter death investigation Thursday, nearly two months after Carter was found dead in the back of a police car.
Carter's death was ruled a suicide late August, but attorneys for his family say, the investigation is far from over. Jonesboro police department released audio, video, and photos that led to their determination, including dash cam video showing the moment officers first pulled over the truck Carter and two other men were riding in July 29th, the night police say Carter shot himself while handcuffed in the back of a police car.
Jonesboro police officers created their own video, included in the file, reconstructing how they say Carter would have been able to shoot himself while handcuffed. The department also released photos showing handcuff marks on Carter's wrist, as well as video of witness interviews and audio from an interview with Carter's girlfriend who claims he called her from inside the police car.
"He called me and told he was in the back of the police car and he was scared and he had a pistol on him," said Brandie Henson, told an investigator over the phone.
Click here to listen to Henson's full interview.
Carter's attorneys say they too are looking through the newly released information. They say, it's rare to have a department release an entire file, but they're mostly concerned about what's not inside, including the audio and video where Carter allegedly shoots himself.
Benjamin Erwin, the managing attorney at the Cochran Firm in Memphis, says his team plans to wrap up their investigation and file a lawsuit. At the very least, attorneys believe the police department was negligent.
Continuing Coverage:
Carter's death was ruled a suicide late August, but attorneys for his family say, the investigation is far from over. Jonesboro police department released audio, video, and photos that led to their determination, including dash cam video showing the moment officers first pulled over the truck Carter and two other men were riding in July 29th, the night police say Carter shot himself while handcuffed in the back of a police car.
Jonesboro police officers created their own video, included in the file, reconstructing how they say Carter would have been able to shoot himself while handcuffed. The department also released photos showing handcuff marks on Carter's wrist, as well as video of witness interviews and audio from an interview with Carter's girlfriend who claims he called her from inside the police car.
"He called me and told he was in the back of the police car and he was scared and he had a pistol on him," said Brandie Henson, told an investigator over the phone.
Click here to listen to Henson's full interview.
Carter's attorneys say they too are looking through the newly released information. They say, it's rare to have a department release an entire file, but they're mostly concerned about what's not inside, including the audio and video where Carter allegedly shoots himself.
Benjamin Erwin, the managing attorney at the Cochran Firm in Memphis, says his team plans to wrap up their investigation and file a lawsuit. At the very least, attorneys believe the police department was negligent.
Continuing Coverage:
- Jonesboro Officer Involved in Chavis Carter Case Returns to Work
- Reverend Jesse Jackson Leads Vigil for Chavis Carter
- Jonesboro PD: Chavis Carter told Girlfriend He Had Gun in Patrol Car
- Rev. Jesse Jackson to Address Chavis Carter Case in Memphis, Jonesboro
- Jonesboro PD Release Chavis Carter Autopsy Report
- Web Extra: Jonesboro PD Release Chavis Carter Dashcam Video, Witness Interviews
- Web Extra: FBI Investigating Chavis Carter Case
- Police Reenact Cuffed Suspect Shooting in Video
- Jonesboro Police Release Report on In-Custody Death
