Rhyker Earl’s family reported that he had been experiencing seizures for over seven years.

Due to the frequency of these episodes, his relatives developed a system to care for him afterward, which included providing comfort, hydration, and sometimes calling emergency services.

On September 8, after Earl experienced multiple seizures, his grandmother called 911 for help at their home near DeMotte, Indiana. What started as a routine medical response turned tragic.

The sheriff’s office released bodycam footage showing deputies handcuffing Earl and restraining him for over 20 minutes while he struggled and called for help. Family members can be heard in the video explaining that Earl was confused after a seizure.

The situation escalated when Earl received several doses of what appeared to be sedatives, leading to him becoming unresponsive. Less than half an hour after the deputies arrived, he stopped breathing and required resuscitation. He was later taken to the hospital, where he remained on life support before passing away two days later.

Indiana State Police are currently investigating his death but have not commented on the case. The Jasper County Sheriff’s office emphasized that they released the footage with the state police’s approval.

The results of Earl’s autopsy and toxicology tests are still pending, according to his family’s attorneys.

In a statement about the video, the Jasper County Sheriff’s office mentioned they are not making any conclusions about the incident. They stated, “Mr. Earl was experiencing a medical emergency and was displaying confusion and significant resistance to medical personnel. The deputies’ role was to prevent harm to him or the EMTs.”

Earl’s death has reignited discussions about fatal police interactions, particularly in the wake of numerous cases involving unarmed individuals, especially Black men, leading to calls for police reform.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Earl’s family, addressed the media alongside them, watching the bodycam footage for the first time.

While the family has not initiated a lawsuit, Crump pledged to pursue every legal avenue for justice. He stated, “This could either be a George Floyd situation, where a lack of oxygen led to his death, or an Elijah McClain scenario, involving EMTs administering drugs. We don’t know yet.”

Connie Widner, Earl’s grandmother, expressed regret for calling 911, believing she could have cared for him better than the responders did.

Earl’s seizures that day started at his sister’s home, where paramedics had previously been called without incident. After returning home, he had two more seizures, prompting his grandmother to call for help.

Footage shows a deputy rushing into the kitchen and forcibly restraining Earl, who was confused and unstable.

For over 20 minutes, Earl pleaded for help while struggling against the restraints as EMTs administered several sedatives. The footage captured discussions about possible drug use and preparations for intubation.

Minutes later, Earl became silent, and his aunt begged for immediate medical attention, noting that he appeared to be unresponsive. Despite their pleas, it took time for medical personnel to assess his condition accurately.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office stated that Earl became unresponsive and was taken to the hospital, where he later died. The statement did not mention the administration of sedatives.

Crump and his co-counsel criticized the deputies for their response, arguing they acted inappropriately toward someone in a “post-seizure state,” using excessive force.

The Mayo Clinic defines seizures as sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain, which can lead to confusion and fatigue during the recovery phase known as “postictal.”

In 2023, the Epilepsy Foundation began training law enforcement on appropriate responses to seizures. Experts emphasize that proper training is essential, as law enforcement may misinterpret a post-seizure state as intoxication or drug use.

At the news conference, Cassie Paris, Earl’s children’s mother, shared that she had witnessed him have over 50 seizures and that he was never aggressive afterward—only disoriented and scared.

The family expressed concerns about seeking help in the future, fearing they might face a similar situation.