- Michael Sabbie died in Bi State Jail in Texarkana, Texas, last July
- The 35-year-old was facing a misdemeanor domestic assault charge
- He was found in his cell on July 22, three days after being taken to jail
- Footage shows guards ignoring him as he told them he couldn’t breathe
- They wrestled him to the ground, pepper-sprayed and showered him
- Officers said Sabbie was non-compliant when told to go back to his cell
- Medical examiner said death was ‘natural’ and caused by health problems
A shocking video has revealed how a father-of-four begged for water and pleaded with prison guards that he couldn’t breathe as they wrestled, gassed and showered him hours before he died in his cell.
Michael Sabbie, 35, had been in the Bi State Jail in Texarkana, a private prison on the border between Texas and Arkansas, for three days when he died in July last year.
The father-of-four was placed in custody on a misdemeanor domestic assault charge to which he had pleaded not guilty.
In the hours before his death, he was wrestled to the ground by guards who claimed he was resisting orders by not going back to his cell when told.
Sabbie had been in court on July 22, 2015, when he returned to the jail at around 4pm. On his way back to his cell, he stopped to catch his breath.
Surveillance footage from inside the prison shows him resting by the wall, propping himself up as other inmates made their way back to their cells.
Sabbie was approached by a guard who, after exchanging some words, threw him the ground.
The 35-year-old rested against a wall in the prison as he made his way back to his cell after finding himself short of breath (left). A prison guard threw him to the ground after less than a minute of conversation (right)
In the scuffle, Sabbie’s prison-issued pants fell by his waist. Officers didn’t correct them until after he was handcuffed
Sabbie was brought back to his feet after being peppe-sprayed in the face. He was visibly distressed and yelling as officers marched him to the medical center
Officers hosed him down while he remained in his clothes. Sabbie collapsed during the shower
Further footage taken on a hand held camera shows five more officers rush to hold him down. While being ordered to put his hands behind his back, Sabbie repeatedly pleaded: ‘I can’t breathe.’
One of the officers then pepper-sprayed his face, leaving him coughing and spluttering. Once on his feet and slammed with his face against a wall, he begged: ‘Please, I can’t breathe. I have pneumonia’.
He was marched into medical and then hosed down with water while still wearing his clothes. Sabbie, whose names guards did not know as they manhandled him, then fainted in the shower.
Sabbie had been arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. He pleaded not guilty
He had an exasperated exchange with an officer ordering him to ‘stay up or be administered with a chemical agent’ seconds earlier.
In response, he begged: ‘Please! I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Please.’
Once on the floor, a guard was heard dictating for the camera: ‘The offender is perfectly sit down. He sit down. He’s on the floor. Y’all help him up to his feet’.
The guards are then seen dragging him to his cell where they ‘slide him under the bunk’ before locking the door. Sabbie was found dead the following day at around 6am.
His death was ruled as ‘natural’ by a medical examiner who noted his obesity and pre-existing health problems.
The man’s family has released the video after presenting it to The Department of Justice earlier this year.
The Department has decided not to pursue charges against any of the officers involved despite their protestations due to lack of evidence.
The Daily Mail USA
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