On November 8th, 2007 Mr. Dereck Holland, an 18 year old Tuscarora High School student, was tased by Cpl. Jody Maybush of the Frederick County Sheriff Deputy on school grounds. The NAACP finds the use of this weapon, in this case, unwarranted.
In the early morning of Sunday November 18th, another deputy of the Frederick County Sheriff used the taser weapon on Jarrel Gray, another young black man. The man was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. We are calling on the Director of Civil Rights at the Maryland Attorney General Office to launch an independent investigation into this serious matter. During a Press Conference on this issue last Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 at the C Burr Artz Public Library, several other victims showed up to report their cases.
Based on the investigations conducted by the NAACP and subsequent complains and allegations, it appears that officers from the Frederick County Sheriff office are using this weapon routinely rather than as a weapon of last resort as stated in national policy manuals.
On December 2, 2008 the NAACP called for an independent investigation from your office.
I am writing to support that request. The circumstances require a Call for an independent investigation on the allegations of excessive use of TASER by the Frederick Maryland Sheriffs Office
On November 8th, 2007 Mr. Dereck Holland, an 18 year old Tuscarora High School student, was tased by Cpl. Jody Maybush of the Frederick County Sheriff Deputy on school grounds. The NAACP finds the use of this weapon, in this case, unwarranted.
In the early morning of Sunday November 18th, another deputy of the Frederick County Sheriff used the taser weapon on Jarrel Gray, another young black man. The young man was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
We are calling on you to launch an independent investigation into this serious matter.
During an NAACP Press Conference on this issue last Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 at the C Burr Artz Public Library, several other victims showed up to report their cases.
Based on our own investigations and subsequent complains and allegations, it appears that officers from the Frederick County Sheriff%u2019s office are using this weapon routinely rather than as a weapon of last resort as stated in national policy manuals.
Sincerely,
Guy Djoken
Frederick County NAACP President
