Officers not indicted in death of Phillip White who died while in police custody

A grand jury has declined to indict two Vineland, NJ police officers involved in the March 2015 death of Phillip White.

Vineland police not indicted in Phillip White’s death

Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae’s office said in a press release that a grand jury heard testimony from witnesses, read recorded documentation, examined forensic evidence and viewed recorded cell phone video of the incident.

“The grand jury was instructed on potential criminal charges against the two officers, as well as the law of jurisdiction—the use of force in protection of self, the protection of others and use of force by law enforcement—and based on their consideration of the facts and circumstances, declined to indict the two officers,” said First Assistant Prosecutor Harold B. Shapiro.

What happened to Phillip White?

White was arrested at his home in Vineland on the morning of March 31, 2015, and died while he was in custody.

Police were responding to calls of a man “freaking out.” One witness said officers punched, kicked and stomped White while he was restrained and left him unconscious. He was also bitten by a police dog on his face and body.

The incident was caught on video and later posted to YouTube.

Outrage over the police encounter

Many black residents in the South Jersey town expressed their outrage over the indicent. Phillip White’s death received moderate media attention. This news breaks as Baltimore police officer Ceasar Goodson Jr. was aquitted of charges in the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. While the two happened in different places, a very somber occurrence is happening of no justice.