Southwick Family Questions Police in Death of Son

Southwick Family Questions Police in Death of Son

By Matthew Campbell

22 year old David Woodman died Sunday after being arrested over a mile away from Celtics celebrations on June 18. His family wants to know if those injuries came at the hands of police.

"He was in sole custody of police at that time, so we don't know what happened," says Woodman family lawyer, Howard Friedman.

"Officers did not use excessive force," says Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis.

Here's what we do know. Both sides agree that the night the Celtics won, Woodman was drinking on the street, over a mile away from the celebrations at the Garden. He was arrested by police and cuffed. But that's when it begins to get cloudy.

Police say it happened just like this.

At 12:47 that morning, police made a call for medical assistance. Between 12:47 and 12:53, Woodman went into medical distress. At 12:53 they called again for an ambulance, and started CPR. 5 minutes after that call, an ambulance arrived. His parents say, it was too late. Woodman already suffered brain damage.

We also learned that Southwick-Tolland High grad, suffered from a condition known as transposition of great arteries of the heart. Doctors say it's not known to cause sudden death, but could limit physical activity. Activity like fleeing from police, which officers say he did. But his lawyer says, just earlier that day, Woodman was playing basketball.

Things aren't adding up and this investigation is far from over. Police want it done quickly, while the family's lawyer, has contacted the FBI and will do an independent autopsy. Results from the Medical Examiners Office will be known in a matter of days.

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