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Report Blames Cleveland Officers, City in Tanisha Anderson Death

A report says lack of police training led to Tanisha Anderson's death
Joell Anderson
A report says lack of police training led to Tanisha Anderson's death
A report says lack of police training led to Tanisha Anderson's death
Credit Joell Anderson
A report says lack of police training led to Tanisha Anderson's death

A police consultant says Cleveland officers did not follow common police practices, which contributed to the death ofTanishaAnderson. The reportwas filed today as part of an ongoing lawsuit Anderson’s family has filed against the officers and the city.

The report by former Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief LouReitercharges that the officers were unreasonable and excessive when they restrained Anderson, who had mental health issues. Her family called police for help because she had become unruly.

Family attorney AlGerhardstein says, “One of the reasons we filed it now is in the hope that the city will take this very seriously and make sure that officers are trained immediately on how to prevent positional asphyxia. Just roll the individual over after they’ve been secured so they're no longer on their chest and suppressing their breathing.”

The county medical examiner’s report says Anderson died from being restrained in a prone position, and that obesity and other health factors contributed to her death.

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Kevin Niedermier
Kevin was raised in New Washington in rural North Central Ohio. He attended Bowling Green State University and Ashland College (now Ashland University) before beginning his career in commercial radio news.