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Autopsy: Boy Restrained at Boot Camp Died from Sickle Cell
Thursday, February 16, 2006; Posted: 8:59 p.m.
EST (01:59 GMT)
PANAMA
CITY, Florida (CNN) -- A 14-year-old boy who died while being
restrained at a military-style boot camp suffered from sickle cell
trait, natural complications of which caused the teen's death,
according to a medical examiner's report released Thursday.
However, the report was not enough to placate
the boy's parents and local leaders, who have requested that the
U.S. Justice Department investigate whether Martin Lee Anderson's
civil rights were violated by the use of excessive force.
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday
it will grant the request for a federal inquiry. The parents could
not be reached for comment.
Bay County, Florida, medical examiner Charles
Siebert said in a report that Anderson died of internal bleeding, a
complication of his sickle cell trait. He added that he found no
evidence of blunt-force trauma or bruising that would have indicated
the boy was handled with excessive force.
Anderson collapsed and died January 6, after he
complained of breathing difficulties while running on a track during
the intake process of the Bay County Sheriff's Office Boot Camp
program.
The sheriff's office said restraint measures
were used on Anderson because he was being "uncooperative."
Siebert, who has watched a videotape of the
incident, said he did not consider the restraint measures used to be
excessive force.
"None of the physical contact I observed could
have caused his death," he said.
But two Florida legislators who have seen the
videotape are upset.
"I think people are going to be outraged,"
State Rep. Gus Barreiro, chairman of the State Juvenile Justice
Committee, said of the tape that will be made public Friday.
The intake process is videotaped as a matter of
policy.
Breathing difficulty is a sign of sickle cell
trait, a condition that experts say commonly has no other symptoms,
Siebert said, adding that the condition would not have been detected
by the screening done before Anderson entered the camp.
Siebert's findings have led the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement, which is investigating the incident,
to other incidents in which Anderson had trouble breathing in
basketball practice.
The department is preparing to provide evidence
to the state attorney, who will determine whether charges will be
filed.
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