WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader13 News Exclusive: Family Has Video of the Night Man Died in Police Custody

13 News Exclusive: Family Has Video of the Night Man Died in Police Custody

By Dani Maxwell

LOVES PARK - The family of a man who died in police custody plans to file a lawsuit. Jesse Hare's mom called 911 on July 2, 2008 saying he was having a medical problem.

When police got to the home on Granite Street in Loves Park, Hare ran. Officers chased him to Forest Hills Road and finally got him in handcuffs. That's when he stopped breathing. Hare's Mom tells 13 News he had a history of cocaine use, but autopsy results aren't back yet.

Hare's family says either way it doesn't matter. They think police officers were too aggressive that night. A few men who were there that night, shot video of it and gave it to Hare's cousin, Chandra Peterson. You can hear them say, "The cops are vigorously beating this man.  We missed the nightstick action."

Peterson showed it exclusively to 13 News Thursday night. Hare's Mom had called for an ambulance because he was having a hard time breathing. Police came too, and that's when Hare took off. Chandra says that's because he was scared after being beaten by Loves Park officers the year before. They had pictures they say show the bruises he got that night. Hare was actually the one who called police at that time, thinking someone was breaking into his house.

As for the night he died, Loves Park Deputy Police Chief Jim Puckett says his officers did the right thing and he stands by their actions. He hasn't seen the video but says he would be open to meeting with Hare's family to look at it.

Chandra says the department hasn't told them anything about what happened that night but seeing the video now, they think police caused Jesse's death. Peterson says, "He's not fighting back. He's hollering. He's crying. He's screaming, 'Get off me' and the cop keeps saying, 'Quit resisting arrest. You're only hurting yourself, quit resisting.' How is that resisting when he's face down with all those officers on top of him? He can't move."

Hare's family has a lawyer and plans to file a lawsuit against the Loves Park Police Department soon. Deputy Chief Puckett says they're not hiding anything and the full autopsy results should be back soon.