'You gonna die?': Bodycam films police mocking dying man
WARNING – DISTURBING CONTENT
This is the shocking moment a man pinned down by officers slowly died as they laughed and joked around.
Bodycam footage taken in August 2016 shows the death of Tony Timpa, who was handcuffed and restrained on the ground in a car park in Dallas for nearly 14 minutes.
Officers had arrived after he called 911 himself to say he was suffering from schizophrenia and depression, had not been taking his medication and needed help.
The video shows Timpa apparently struggling to breathe and repeatedly asks the officers to stop restraining him, yelling: "Help me!"
Officers are seen joking that Timpa had fallen asleep after he became unresponsive, while one can he heard saying: “It’s time for school, wake up!”
Another yells: "I don't want to go to school! Five more minutes, mum!”
Paramedics later administered a sedative to Timpa, who is seen lying on a gurney inside an ambulance.
One of the officers asks: "He didn't just die down there, did he?" and "Hope I didn't kill him.”
Paramedics later told the officers that Timpa has died.
Coroners ruled Timpa’s death a homicide, saying the cause was a “sudden cardiac death” caused by "the toxic effects of cocaine and physiological stress associated with physical restraint”.
Timpa's family alleged excessive force in a federal lawsuit, claiming the officers "recklessly" and "knowingly" killed him.
Sgt Kevin Mansell, Officer Danny Vasquez and Officer Dustin Dillard were indicted on misdemeanor deadly conduct charges in December but the charges were dismissed in March.
They were placed on administrative leave but returned to full duty in April, according to Dallas police.
Mr Vasquez and another officer, Raymond Dominguez, were disciplined for "being discourteous and unprofessionalism”.
The footage was released by a Dallas judge after news outlets called for it to be made public.
Geoff Henley, an attorney for Timpa’s family, told CBS DFW: ”Tony Timpa shouldn't have died that night.”
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