The family of Byron Jackson, 45, of North Augusta, is seeking answers following his death after an encounter with Irmo police last month. At a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers raised concerns about how the incident was handled and the lack of information released to the public.
An altercation in a vehicle was reported by a citizen on Sunday, June 22, and when police arrived the vehicle fled. A brief pursuit followed which ended with Jackson and a police officer outside of their vehicles in a ravine. Jackson was apprehended and then complained of trouble breathing. Officers immediately called for EMS to be dispatched to the scene where they administered life saving measures including CPR and provided transport of Jackson to a local hospital.
IPD called for an immediate South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation into the incident.
Irmo Police Department policies call for the two Irmo officers to be put on leave until the end of the investigation and this was done.
Sellars suggested that the the Irmo Police Department was not being transparent because they didn’t report the incident until June 27 which was five days after it occurred.` Sellars complained that the IPD ‘refuses to identify the officers involved or release dash cam or body cam video of the incident.’. Jackson was arrested on Sunday and died on Wednesday. Irmo Police released a statement the following day on Thursday.
“This being an on going investigation it would not be appropriate to comment at this time,” said Irmo Police Chief Bobby Dale. “This incident is in the capable hands of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.”
