ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Michael Davis Sr. wants answers. His brother, who he identified as 50-year-old Richard Gregory Davis died after being tased by police Sunday morning on Tremont Street. “I know he didn't stop breathing by himself. It was caused by him being tased,” said Davis.
He said his brother is a Marine veteran, who has a medical condition. The family wonders if that played a role in Sunday's incident."My brother is almost 300 hundred pounds. He can barely breathe just walking, whether he was intoxicated or whatever I don't understand why he was tased with handcuffs and now they won't let me see my brother's body."
Davis said he believes police actions weren't justified."This is ridiculous,” he continued. “This is a loss, not just to me, but my family. No one deserves to die in the street, especially by someone else's hands and this right here seems like it was being done by the police officer's hands. "
Reverend Myra Brown who is a church and community activist said Sunday’s incident is another reason why body cameras are necessary. She said this should be a push to get them sooner than later, "I think this is a wakeup call and really giving us an opportunity revaluate law enforcement's response to unarmed black men, not only in the city but other cities around the country."
Like Davis' family she also wants answers to what led up to his death. “We don't know why he hit a house, we don't know what he hit a church, a gas meter, but once you take a life those answers are taken forever."
The United Christian Leadership Ministry also released a statement. Rev Lewis Stewart was contacted by Rochester Police Chief Michael Ciminelli about how police are investigating this case.
Lewis said this underlines the need for an independent investigator to investigate any and all incidents involving the police.