- Police Brutality Watch

Family lodges complaint with watchdog agency.

The civilian watchdog Office of Citizen Complaints has launched an investigation into the death of a drug dealer while in police custody. Police say Andre Brown, 40, swallowed a bag of cocaine and a bag of heroin as he was being arrested on Leavenworth Street near Turk Street around 6:15 p.m. on Nov. 23. Members of Brown's family met with homicide investigators Monday to quiz them on the death. The Police Department homicide unit investigates any deaths which occur in police custody. The family also lodged a complaint with the OCC, sparking a separate investigation. Brown's uncle, Henry Randolph, said that after talking with witnesses of the incident, he wanted an investigation into whether police used excessive force by hitting Brown with a baton, possibly contributing to his death. Randolph also questioned whether police could have administered CPR to Brown before the ambulance arrived. Lt. John Hennessey of the homicide unit declined to comment on the case, but said he urged any witnesses to the incident to come forward. Police Chief Heather Fong's office did not return calls for comment. [more]