Feds to Investigate Florida Custody Deaths of 2 Black Men Killed by Cops

The deaths of two people in police custody within the past week will be investigated by federal authorities to determine if civil rights were violated, officials said Thursday in a news conference with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, U.S. Attorney Paul Perez and the FBI. Sheriff John Rutherford said he decided to ask for federal assistance because the deaths of two men over a three-day period had been questioned by the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, who claimed police were targeting blacks.  The Justice Department and the FBI will investigate the cases of Sammy Evans Jr., 49, who died Friday after he was arrested for public drinking and Ezra Jones, 29, who died Dec. 5 after being shot with pepper spray and put in restraints. An autopsy showed Evans died of a broken neck. The cause of Jones' death has not been released. [more] and [more]