Nykon Brandon Death: Salt Lake City Police Officers Not Charged After Man Dies Following Restraint Footage Shows Officers Administering Aid to Unresponsive Brandon

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Salt Lake City police restraint death
2. Police accountability Utah incident

Salt Lake City police officers will not face charges after a man died following their restraint, as announced by Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. The incident occurred when officers responded to a report of a man in distress who had attempted to steal beer. The man, later identified as Nykon Brandon, engaged in a struggle with officers before becoming unresponsive and later dying. The medical examiner determined that Brandon’s death was primarily due to his poor health, methamphetamine toxicity, and physical exertion. Despite the tragic outcome, no charges were filed against the officers involved in the incident. The officer repeats himself twice while tapping Brandon’s shoulder to no response, so officers roll him on his back. Footage shows scratches down one of Brandon’s arms as officers turn him over, and he appears unconscious. “Is he alive?” someone asks. The footage ends as police officials say officers began to administer medical aid. Cause of death: Less than a minute later, police administered the “first of multiple doses” of Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. An autopsy concluded that Brandon died from sudden cardiopulmonary arrest during physical struggle with prone restraint in the setting of obesity and methamphetamine toxicity. Authorities called an ambulance and administered three more doses of Narcan while they continued CPR.

Salt Lake City police officers will not face charges after the death of a man who died less than an hour after being restrained by them, according to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. The incident, which occurred on August 14, 2022, involved 35-year-old Nykon Brandon, who was reported to be in a mental health crisis after attempting to steal beer from a brewery in the Granary District.

The police responded to a call about a man in his underwear causing a disturbance and running in and out of traffic. Body camera footage shows officers chasing Brandon and eventually restraining him after a struggle. He became unresponsive while being restrained and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

An autopsy revealed that Brandon’s death was primarily due to his poor health, methamphetamine toxicity, and physical exertion from running and struggling with the officers. Despite the fact that his death occurred after he was handcuffed, the medical examiner determined that it was not directly caused by the officers’ actions.

The incident raised questions about the handling of individuals in mental health crises by law enforcement. Brandon had interacted with police earlier in the day when he was taken to a detox center after exhibiting confused and scared behavior. However, he left the center and ended up at the brewery where the fatal altercation occurred.

The detox center staff’s refusal to comply with a search warrant for Brandon’s medical records and video surveillance raised concerns about their handling of the situation. The facility’s program director did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.

The body camera footage of the incident showed officers trying to restrain Brandon as he resisted and attempted to grab one officer’s weapon. Despite their efforts to subdue him, Brandon continued to struggle and resist, leading to a prolonged struggle on the ground.

Ultimately, the decision not to press charges against the officers was based on the medical examiner’s findings that Brandon’s death was not directly caused by the officers’ actions. However, the incident highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement when dealing with individuals in mental health crises and the need for better training and resources to handle such situations more effectively.

Tragic Incident Unfolds in Salt Lake City

In a distressing turn of events, a tragic incident unfolded in Salt Lake City, where a routine encounter with law enforcement took a fatal turn. The incident, captured on camera, shows officers attempting to gain control of a man named Brandon, who ultimately lost his life during a physical struggle with the police.

The footage reveals the officers repeating themselves twice while tapping Brandon’s shoulder, to no avail. As a last resort, the officers rolled him onto his back, only to discover scratches on his arm as they turned him over. Brandon appeared unconscious, prompting the question, “Is he alive?” before the footage abruptly ends with officers beginning to administer medical aid.

Cause of Death Revealed

Subsequent investigation revealed that less than a minute later, the police administered the first of multiple doses of Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. Despite their efforts, they were unable to find a pulse, prompting them to move Brandon from the gravel to the sidewalk and initiate CPR. Paramedics arrived on the scene and continued lifesaving measures, ultimately transporting Brandon to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy conducted by the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner determined that Brandon’s death was attributed to sudden cardiopulmonary arrest during a physical struggle involving prone restraint, exacerbated by obesity and methamphetamine toxicity. The exact time of his death remains unknown, although it was confirmed to have occurred less than an hour after the confrontation.

While the circumstances surrounding Brandon’s death were tragic, the district attorney’s office concluded that it fell outside the scope of an “officer-involved critical incident.” As a result, no charges were filed against the officers involved, as their actions were deemed a reasonable and proportionate response to maintain the safety of all individuals present.

Previous Incidents in Salt Lake City

Regrettably, Brandon’s death marked the second fatality in 2022 involving Salt Lake City officers using restraints during an arrest. Just months earlier, a 40-year-old woman lost her life under similar circumstances, with her death being classified as a homicide. The district attorney’s office is still evaluating the justification of the force used in that case, underscoring the need for thorough scrutiny and accountability in law enforcement practices.

As the community grapples with these tragic losses, questions arise about the protocols and training provided to law enforcement officers in handling such situations. The need for transparency, accountability, and reform in policing practices becomes increasingly urgent as incidents like these cast a shadow of doubt and concern over the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.