Loved ones of Charles Adair say viewing body-camera footage leading to his death was 'devastating'
Adair, 50, died after being taken into custody at the Wyandotte County Detention Center.
Adair, 50, died after being taken into custody at the Wyandotte County Detention Center.
The family of Charles Adair, a 50-year-old man who died in custody at the Wyandotte County Detention Center, saw body-camera footage of those moments for the first time on Wednesday.
Family members and their attorneys spoke to the media after seeing the videos. His sister, Erica Adair, described the experience at a news conference.
"It's pretty devastating," Erica Adair said, with her mother by her side. "We basically watched our loved one die. They knelt on his back until he was breathless. So, pretty devastating to watch, although it was something that we needed to see."
An autopsy obtained by KMBC 9 Investigates found Adair died from complications of mechanical asphyxia after an officer knelt on his back. The coroner ruled the death a homicide.
Richard Fatherley, a Wyandotte County deputy, has been charged with second-degree murder, or in the alternative, involuntary manslaughter, in connection with Charles Adair's July 5 death.
"A traffic violation shouldn’t be a death sentence. The Adair family is here seeking accountability so that no other family has to suffer as they’re suffering," said attorney Ted Ruzicka with Davis, Bethune & Jones LLC.
Watch the full news conference in the video player below.
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