Courtesy of Newsone.com
Police in Washington, D.C. are investigating the death of a 27-year-old man who passed away while in handcuffs in the custody of private police at a residential building in the Southeast section of the city, reports The Huffington Post.
Alonzo Smith was found unconscious and not breathing on Sunday by the Metropolitan Police Department, who responded to reports of an “assault in progress.” Smith was taken to a hospital, where he later died, the report says.
Per The HuffPo:
They found the man, identified as Alonzo Smith, in the custody of what city police said were “special police officers working at the location.” Special police officers are licensedby the District of Columbia, and city police must sign off on their application for the job…
Smith self-published a book of poems in 2013 that he said he wrote between the ages of 14 and 22, starting when he was put in the juvenile justice system. In his author bio, he said he was working in a private school assisting with special needs youth and finishing his social work degree.
Smith worked at an alternative school in Virginia and colleagues took to his Facebook page this week to mourn his loss, calling him “one hell of a great worker” who “kept the kids smiling,” writes the HuffPo. Rest in peace, Mr. Smith
