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The dismissals come amid a series of killings by police in
cities including of Baltimore, New York, and Ferguson, Missouri
over the past year that have raised questions about officers'
use of lethal force, especially against black men and other
minority groups.
The Chatham County Sheriff's Office said its decision was based
on an internal review and a separate probe by the Georgia Bureau
of Investigation into the Jan. 1 death of 22-year-old Matthew
Ajibade.
Officials said he injured three deputies while being booked into
jail on charges of domestic violence, battery and resisting
arrest. Ajibade, a college student, was then placed in an
isolation cell and later found unresponsive, officials said.
The local Savannah Morning News reported that area clergy
members said in a letter to the sheriff's office this week that
Ajibade suffered from bipolar disorder. They also said he was
handcuffed to a restraining chair when officials used a taser on
him, according to the News.
The Sheriff's office said it had turned over its findings to the
county prosecutor to weigh possible criminal charges. The office
said it would not make its report available unless a local court
rules the findings are subject to release or the prosecutor
finishes investigating.
The office did note in Friday's statement however that among the
changes instituted following Ajibade's death and the subsequent
investigations was a "clear written policy of when tasers may
not be used."
Chatham County Sheriff Al St Lawrence "deeply regrets the death
of Mr. Ajibade", the statement said.
(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Alex
Richardson)
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