What started as an interrogation by Dallas Police ended as a tragedy that has placed authorities under the spotlight. 39 year old Xzavier Franklin was taken in as a suspect over a murder case But, while he was being interrogated, his health quickly deteriorated under the officers’ scrutiny, who are now being investigated themselves over the way they handled the medical emergency in an area that should have been safe.
Security camera footage disturbingly shows how Franklin is visibly ill, vomiting in a trashcan inside the station. Despite his clear signs of distress, the man remained in custody until he collapsed. Paramedics of the Dallas Fire department arrived to rush him to the hospital, but Franklin was pronounced dead a little later, which has raised the question as to why he didn’t get medical attention immediately after he presented the first symptoms.
Dallas police has started an internal investigation to determine if protocol was followed when Xzavier was detained. The Dallas County coroners office is still working to determine the cause of death, while the District Attorney’s Office is performing their own investigation. The case has gone viral as a reminder about authority’s responsibilities to people in their care, especially when a life depends on their quick actions during a health crisis.
You can watch the incident right here: