Autopsy finds minor injuries to Kansas teen who died after being restrained at juvenile facility

A preliminary post-mortem report for the 17-year-old foster youngster who died Sunday two days after corrections staffers restrained him at a juvenile facility in Kansas revealed solely minor accidents, officers stated Thursday.

Cedric “CJ” Lofton, of Wichita, obtained “some scratches and a bruise” following a bodily wrestle with corrections workers on the Juvenile Consumption and Evaluation Middle on Friday, Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter stated at a information convention with Sedgwick County District Legal professional Marc Bennett. “It’s completely a tragic case. I need to guarantee the general public we’ll be totally investigating it. … We gained’t depart any stone unturned looking for out precisely what occurred to Mr. Lofton.”

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is main the investigation into the teenager’s loss of life and can flip over its findings to Bennett.

A trigger and method of loss of life haven’t been decided and a toxicology report is pending, Bennett stated.

“There have been no life-threatening accidents,” Bennett stated. “Which is why toxicology goes to be … that necessary.”

Easter stated Wichita police have been referred to as to the teenager’s residence about 1 a.m. Friday as a result of he was stated to be in disaster and “felt that folks have been out to kill him.” His foster father or mother needed a psychological well being analysis, Easter stated.

The KBI has stated Lofton was concerned in a bodily wrestle with officers and arrested on 4 counts of battery of a legislation enforcement officer.

He was handcuffed and positioned in a wrap restraint, a tool used to stop folks from hurting themselves or others, officers stated.

Neither the teenager’s foster father or mother nor family members might be reached for remark Thursday.

Lofton is Black. There have been Black, white and Hispanic workers on the juvenile facility, stated Lt. Benjamin Blick, spokesman for the county sheriff’s workplace.

Officers launched extra particulars Thursday in regards to the timeline after the teenager’s arrest. Lofton was transported to the juvenile facility by Wichita police shortly after 2:30 a.m., and about three hours later, he turned unresponsive after allegedly combating with facility workers, officers stated Thursday.

Staff on the juvenile facility started CPR at 5:18 a.m., Easter stated. A couple of minutes later, emergency medical personnel arrived and continued CPR.

“At that time, they can get his coronary heart began once more,” Easter stated.

Lofton died at a hospital simply earlier than 2 a.m. Sunday, officers stated.

Officers have stated that the teenager attacked an worker on the juvenile facility as he was being escorted again to his cell from the restroom.

“A number of corrections workers engaged in a prolonged bodily wrestle to get him into the holding cell and place him into handcuffs,” the KBI stated.

Bennett declined to launch extra particulars in regards to the bodily wrestle between corrections staffers and the teenager.

Melissa Underwood, a spokesperson with KBI, stated in an e-mail Wednesday that 5 Sedgwick County Division of Corrections workers “have been probably concerned” in his restraint. The corrections personnel had been not been positioned on administrative depart, she stated Wednesday.

Authorities on Thursday additionally stated there may be video of the teenager’s bodily encounters with Wichita police and corrections workers on the youth facility. Easter stated state legislation dictates his workplace can authorize bodycam and dashboard footage be considered by sure events together with the topic of the video, some household or a lawyer, however not the general public.

Bennett cited state legislation barring pre-trial publicity when he mentioned video within the case. He stated he expects the KBI to current a preliminary report back to his workplace late subsequent week. The report will assist him decide whether or not to file prices, resolve none are warranted, or conclude the investigation continues, he stated.