Irondale, Ala. (Wiat) – Nearly a year after the death of Philip Reeder, his family calls for answers and accountability from the Irondal Police Department after observing new body frames from a body camera from the day he died.
The 52 -year -old Reeder died during what his family described as a mental health crisis in August 2024. The Alabama Response Agency recently allowed his family to examine the body of the body chamber from that day. At a press conference held in front of the Irondale City Hall on Monday, the family and their lawyers said that what they saw caused serious concerns.
“Philip is obviously heard not once, not twice, but three times,” I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe, “said Sandra Lee Reeder, his wife.
Civil rights lawyer Harry Daniels, who represents the family, said the footage shows that Reed was restrained for a few minutes.
“If I stand right here and the number of 120 seconds – it can happen a lot. It’s three minutes,” Daniels said. “The knee was on the back of his neck while he was handcuffed.”
Shots fired after a dispute in the daily care of Homewood
Reider’s son Zachary Reeder said his family was not alone in experiencing this type of loss.
“This is a terrible thing that needs to happen to every family,” he said. “It happened to George Floyd and that happened to several other families. There are video after a video of people who were shot dead, killed – not only by other people but also by police. People who are there to serve and defend.”
The Jefferson Coronor service classifies Reider’s death as a murder, though this does not necessarily mean that there is guilt in the case. It states that in their summary of autopsy are only the injuries of dumb forces that would not cause Reider’s death.
“The combination of his heart disease, cocaine, injuries and efforts of the dispute are the best explanation for the death of d -Reider,” the summary said.
Previous coverage: Alea investigates the death of man after “possible medical event”
Alea confirmed that he had transferred the case to the District Prosecutor’s Office of Jefferson District in December and examined the opportunity to publicly release the body from the body.
The city of IRDILEA provided the following statement after the press conference:
“The Irondal City and the Irondal Police Department do not agree with the characteristic of G -Ja Sandra Reider’s events about the death of Philip Reider.
“Alabama Act 2023-507 Prevents the Release of the Body-Worn Camera Footage and Prevents Disclosure of Such Footage to Anyone Other Than Those Persons Lede Ath. The Statute pera Individual Whose Image Or Voice is the Subject of the Recording to Video. in accordance with the law.
“On 8/6/2024 at Approximately 5:10 AM, IRONDALE 911 RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS REGARDING A WHITE MALE SUBJECT (LATER IDENTFIED AS PHILIP READER) Offices Were Dispatched to the Area and Located the Subject Who Appeared to Be Under the Influence and Behaving Erratically. Poses a danger to himself and others, Taser was located to bring Mr Reed to Earth and help employees detain Mr. Reeder.
“The officers kept Mr. Reeder on the ground using only his hands. There was no knee in the back of the neck and no excessive force was used. Reder stopped resisting and the officers realized that he had not stopped breathing. They immediately turned, checked the pulse, and began CPR.
“Alea Conducted An Independent Investigation of the Incident and Found No Wrongdoing by The Irondale Police Offices. and Forth on a Busy Road Endangering Himself and Others.
“” Hypertonic heart disease associated with the use and restraint of cocaine during a dispute and is noted in the death certificate that “the heart rate has consumed an illegal drug and has been conquered during a dispute with the police.” Following the investigation of Alea, Jefferson District Prosecutor’s Office did not see a probable cause sufficient for criminal accusations regarding employees and their actions during the arrest/use of an incident by force.
“The City of IRODAL and the Irondal Police Department supports our police officers and do not believe they have done something bad about Philip Reeder.”
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material cannot be published, emitted, rewritten or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, focus on CBS 42.