Mentally Challenged Young Man Killed by Police over a Movie Ticket

ADDED: 9 19 13 Deaf Boy Tasered by Police for being Deaf
REPOST: Daily Kos
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/18/1239682/-Deaf-Boy-Tasered-for-being-Deaf?detail=email#

The mentally challenged deserve to be treated with dignity and respect by those paid through our taxes to Protect & Serve. Law enforcement failed this young man and his death was not only unnecessary, it points to a greater need for appropriate police training so that they will use only "appropriate actions" when handling special needs people. His crime was "not understanding." My heart goes out to this young man who died unnecessarily. We need to prevent such callous treatment of our vulnerable people. (njb)

• Change.org Petition:

• Petitioning Governor Martin O'Malley 

Justice For Ethan: Governor Martin O'Malley, We need an independent investigation and training for police.

Change.Org Petition: https://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-ethan-governor-martin-o-malley-we-need-an-independent-investigation-and-training-for-police?alert_id=jhWdGvdztn_WjaJvbqRtb&utm_campaign=31730&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert

1. 1. 
    
   2. Petition by
      Emma Saylor
      Mount Airy, MD
 
2.  

My big brother, Ethan Saylor, was a 26 year old man with Down Syndrome who died in the custody of three off-duty Frederick County Deputy Sheriffs on January 12th, 2013 over the price of a movie ticket. Our family is hurt and left with many unanswered questions. We're calling for an independent investigation into Ethan's death. 

Ethan's crime? He wouldn't leave a movie theater because he wanted to see Zero Dark Thirty one more time, but didn't pay for the second showing. When he refused to get out of the seat for the next show police attempted to pull him out of his chair and he resisted. Ethan's aide asked the police to wait and that Ethan would calm down shortly if they left him alone. She specifically told them that touching him would just escalate the situation. They didn't listen. 

One deputy pulled Ethan from his seat and began struggling with him. Then two more off-duty deputies joined in, wrestling Ethan and trying to handcuff him. Then they "took him down," falling in a heap with Ethan at the bottom. Witnesses say they could hear him crying and calling for our mom. Then he stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest. In just a few moments he was dead - eventually ruled a homicide by asphyxiation.

To date, the only investigation conducted was written from the narrow perspective of the Frederick County Sheriffs Department. They investigated and cleared themselves of any wrongdoing. And for us, so many questions are left unanswered because of this.

Part of the problem is that police officers in Maryland aren't trained enough in how to deal with developmentally disabled people like my brother. I think training is an important next step in making sure that what happens to my brother never happens to anyone else.

We need a comprehensive, independent investigation that will show all sides of the truth; unbiased and thorough. I want my governor and attorney general to get justice for my brother, and to implement training protocols so that no other family will ever have to experience the pain my family feels.

We miss Ethan every day. He didn't deserve this. And no one else does, either.