Camden Cops say Black Man Slipped, Fell & Broke his Own Neck: Lawyer Demands Release of Complete Video of Incident

From [HERE] A spokesman for Camden County issued the following statement on Ingram's allegations Friday night: "Today's theatrics were put on by a lawyer who know's she cannot win in the court of law so she is trying to manipulate public perception of this incident. The undeniable facts are that the officers were lawfully pursuing a suspect who was running away from them after attempting to hide a stolen gun. While running from the officers, Mr. Ingram fell causing his injuries. The undeniable facts are that the officers did not tackle Mr. Ingram, nor was any excessive force used when pursuing or arresting him. Because of Mr. Imgram's injury, the department asked the Camden County Prosecutor's Office to investigate the incident, and the prosecutor's office has already indicated that the evidence shows there was no misconduct by the officers. What occurred is an unfortunate accident that would have been prevented had Mr. Ingram not resisted arrest by running from officers."

The attorney representing a Black man claiming his neck was snapped under the feet of officers during a June 12 arrest is demanding the immediate release of the "full version" of police video footage documenting the incident.

Attorney Beth Baldinger, representing 21-year-old Camden resident Xavier Ingram, filed a lawsuit in September against the city and county of Camden, as well as the Camden County Police Department and several officers alleging police brutality resulting in paralysis. During a press conference in Camden Friday morning, she stated the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, which has been investigating the incident, has failed to respond to her requests to release the full video, or to give an update on their investigation.

"On the portion of the video we have, we see Ingram is on the ground during the arrest, lifeless and limp," said Baldinger. "He told officers, 'I can't feel my legs,' after they stomped on the back of his neck. Ingram actually heard his neck break, and felt excruciating pain."

The attorney said she expects the rest of the video to refute the official police statement of the events, which is that officers stabilized Ingram and alerted EMTs. Baldinger said she has eyewitness testimony claiming officers instead "forcibly moved" Ingram after the arrest, and later sat him up while "his head and neck dangled."

A spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said he could not publicly comment on an ongoing investigation.

According to Camden County police, Ingram's injuries are the result of an accidental fall he took on a wet road while fleeing police officers.

In their statement on the arrest immediately following the incident, police said officers patrolling the area of 7^th and Chestnut streets observed Ingram holding his waistband in a way that indicated he may have had a gun.

The police account continues, stating that when Ingram walked between two parked cars, an officer heard a "metal object" dropped to the ground. Police later stated they found a silver handgun, which officials believe to have been stolen from Gloucester Township, between the vehicles.

Ingram then walked into a nearby liquor store, where, according to his attorney, he purchased a soda. When Ingram walked outside, police said they attempted to stop him, at which point he ran from the officers, slipped and fell.

"Ingram's tragic injury appears to be an accident of his own accord," said Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson in a statement following the June 12 incident. "The arresting officers displayed composure throughout the incident and had the presence of mind to immediately render aid and summon medical assistance."

However, Baldinger argues that version of the events cannot be true.

On Friday, Baldinger said she had expert medical opinion reviewing Ingram's CT scans, finding that his injuries could have only come from pressure down on top of his neck.

"It could not have been caused by someone going down on their hands — it had to be from the back of his neck," she said. "This young man deserves answers."

Baldinger is also claiming police attacked a second victim at the scene, a man identified as Darren Dickerson, who stated he witnessed the alleged brutality against Ingram and tried to tell the officers to stop.

"When he asked the officers what they were doing, they told him to 'Get out of here, unless you want some of this, too,'" said the attorney. "Police later pulled Mr. Dickerson down, handcuffed him and started stomping on his back. He was taken to the police station and then to the emergency room."

Dickerson was present at Friday's press conference, but declined to speak directly to the press.

Baldinger is also representing Dickerson in his own lawsuit against Camden police, which was filed earlier this week.

Charged with resisting arrest following the June 12 incident, Dickerson is being defended in his criminal trial by attorney Robert Dunn, the same attorney who is defending Ingram against charges of illegal weapon possession in connection with the gun allegedly found between the two vehicles.

Baldinger said Ingram and his family are seeking monetary damages to meet the cost of taking care of him "for the rest of his life."

"He's now a paraplegic as a result of his injury," the attorney said. "It could take tens of millions of dollars to take care of him and the medical bills."

Also present at Friday's press conference were members of Ingram's family, including his sister, Ashley Ingram, and cousin, Hameemah Abdur-Rahmaan, who both said they wanted justice for Xavier, who is currently receiving care at Cooper University Hospital.

"He went from independent to dependent on you just to wipe his eye," said Abdur-Rahmaan. "He can't touch his kids, and he can't give anyone a hug."