INDIANAPOLIS — A pathologist who performed the autopsy on Herman Whitfield III testified Wednesday during the third day of the trial for two IMPD officers charged in his death.
Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez are charged in the death of Herman Whitfield III after police shocked him with a Taser and restrained him face down during a mental health crisis in his parents' home.
Ahmad and Sanchez were indicted by a grand jury in April 2023 in Whitfield's 2022 death. On Nov. 4, 2024, a judge denied a motion to dismiss the criminal charges brought by that grand jury.
In court Wednesday, pathologist Zachary O'Neill testified.
O'Neill said he ruled Whitfield died from "cardiopulmonary arrest in the setting of law enforcement subdual, prone restraint and conducted electrical weapon use." He said morbid obesity and hypertensive cardiovascular disease were contributing factors in Whitfield's death.
When O'Neill was asked why Whitfield's heart stopped, he said "I don't really know."
O'Neill explained that it was likely either during agitation of his breathing and heart rate during the incident or an irregular heartbeat or lactic acid built up in his body that caused his heart to stop.
O'Neill said Whitfield being placed on his side would've made it easier for him to breathe. O'Neill said Whitfield being on his stomach, and pressure on his back, made it harder to breathe because of Whitfield's size.
Under cross examination, O'Neill confirmed that "homicide" as a cause of death is a neutral term that indicates no intent.
The defense asked O'Neill if it's hard to say if rolling Whitfield over sooner would have resulted in a different outcome. O'Neill said, “certainly.”
O'Neill did agree that a combination of four or five things came together to cause Whitfield’s death, but said he can't say that one component is more responsible for Whitfield’s death or that one component removed would have prevented his death.
O'Neill said the Taser didn't stop Whitfield's heart and that THC in his system was not a contributing factor to his death.
"I heard him say clearly one time, ‘I can’t breathe,’" O'Neill said.
O'Neill said that's significant because it shows that Whitfield was still alive and not directly killed by the Taser strike.
O'Neill said medical records showed Whitfield did have marijuana in his urine in hospitalizations in 2010 and 2014 for mental health care. The clinicians concluded that Whitfield was in an agitated state, somewhat related to marijuana use.
O'Neill said there was a 20 second period from the last time Whitfield made a sound or moved to when he was finally handcuffed. He said Whitfield's heart could've stopped and he could have been dead by the time he was handcuffed.
Dr. Ian Adams, a criminologist from the University of South Carolina and a former police officer, also testified in court Wednesday. Adams researches the behavior of police officers. He also helps police agencies develop best practices and has published several reports on body worn cameras.
Adams testified that, for more than 30 years, police nationwide have recognized and been trained that people in prone restraint should be moved from the prone position to their side as soon as possible. He said this is especially important for obese people.
Adams reviewed the body camera of the Whitfield incident and said Sanchez's use of a Taser was best practice, but as soon as the handcuffs were on, Ahmed and Sanchez should've rolled him onto his side in a recovery position.
Adams said an officer's first priority is to preserve life whenever possible. He said the officers seemed to relax when Whitfield was handcuffed, but they still had an obligation to protect his life and should have immediately rolled Whitfield onto his side.
Under cross examination, Adams confirmed that he believed Ahmed and Sanchez acted properly in every way up until they failed to roll Whitfield onto his side sooner.
Adams said the officers never used excessive force, but he said they had a duty under best practices to move Whitfield from the prone position to his side once he was handcuffed and no longer a threat.
The prosecution then rested its case.
Judge Charles Miller denied a defense motion for a directed verdict on the battery and reckless homicide charges against Ahmad and Sanchez in Whitfield's death.
The defense then started presented witnesses, and their first one was IMPD Training Academy Lead Instructor Damon Young.
Young testified saying he reviewed body camera video of the incident. He said he believes Ahmad and Sanchez used situational awareness, made appropriate threat assessments and took appropriate measures throughout the incident.
Young said the officers actions throughout the incident were consistent with training and objectively reasonable. After Whitfield was handcuffed, Young said officers maintained Whitfield's position and were in contact with him, but not forcefully holding him down.
Sanchez then testified in his own defense.
Sanchez said he heard things breaking and crashing in the kitchen. He deployed his Taser when Whitfield ran out of the kitchen, through the dining room and "full speed" at him. He said he didn't want Whitfield to get past him or out the front door.
From the clacking noise to Whitfield's reaction, Sanchez said he didn't believe the Taser was effective. So, the officers went "hands on" to try and subdue and handcuff Whitfield.
In body camera video played in court, Ahmad tells Sanchez, "Stay on his head." Sanchez said that meant that while Whitfield is prone, Sanchez was to make sure Whitfield's head was to the side. Sanchez said he never heard Whitfield say, "I can't breathe."
Sanchez said Whitfield stopped resisting once he was handcuffed, but Sanchez never saw any sign of medical distress for Whitfield. Sanchez said he had a hand on Whitfield, but never applied downward pressure, and didn't see other officers do so after he was handcuffed.
Sanchez said Whitfield was not fully prone while handcuffed, he had one shoulder up with his head to the side.
The defense plans to call Ahmad to the witness stand Thursday and rest its case. Closing arguments are expected Friday morning.