How Nigerian student died in police custody in the US

22yr old Nigerian college student Matthew
Ajibade, (pictured) died in police custody and his
family wants to know more about what led to
his jail death.

CNN reports...

Matthew died in an isolation cell, after he
"became combative during the booking
process," according to a release from the
Chatham County Sheriff's Office in
Savannah, Georgia. During the altercation,
officials say, three deputies were injured,
including a female sergeant who suffered a
concussion and broken nose.

That doesn't square with family members'
description of the 22-year-old, whom they
described as a much-loved "geeky kid."The
Nigeria native was in Savannah studying
computer science.

Ajibade's family has hired Mark O'Mara, a
CNN legal analyst who once represented
George Zimmerman in the death of Florida
teen Trayvon Martin. The attorney hopes to
see "discourse of all available information
as soon as possible," he told CNN on
Tuesday.
Ajibade was diagnosed with bipolar disorder
three years ago and was having a medical
emergency at the time of his arrest and
confinement, O'Mara said.
Savannah police arrested Ajibade on
January 1 after receiving a call about a
domestic disturbance.

When police arrived, they witnessed Ajibade
holding a woman under a blanket,
according to an incident report. Police
uncovered the two and noticed that the
woman's "face was bruised, and her nose
was bleeding," the report says.
Officers ordered Ajibade to release the
woman, but he did not comply, the report
says, adding that when police tried to
arrest Ajibade he proceeded to "resist
apprehension in a violent manner."
He was accused of domestic violence act,
battery and obstruction of an officer. "The
sergeant is still on medical leave. The other
two remain on duty status," said Chief
Deputy Roy Harris.

A woman who he identified as his girlfriend
tried to inform police of his mental health
issues, O'Mara said.

"She also gave police a bottle of his
medication," the attorney told CNN.

The police report notes that officers
received a prescription bottle from the
alleged victim, but the name of the
prescription has been redacted.
Once at the jail, officials say, Ajibade had
to be restrained, during which he injured
the three officers. He was then moved to an
isolation cell due to his "dangerous
behavior," a police news release says.
Deputies conducted welfare checks on
Ajibade and on their second check he was
found nonresponsive, police say. First aid
was administered by the jail's medical unit
staff. Despite CPR and attempts to restart
his heart with a defibrillator, Ajibade could
not be revived, according to the release.

It's unclear how much of the event, if any,
was captured on the jail's surveillance
system, or whether officers conducted a
mental health evaluation before Ajibade's
death.

County officials declined CNN requests for
an interview, citing the ongoing
investigation. The sheriff's office has
requested that the Georgia Bureau of
Investigation conduct an independent
investigation. A GBI spokesperson said an
autopsy had been conducted, but that a
cause of death was pending toxicology
reports.
The Chatham County District Attorney's
office said a criminal investigation is
ongoing and the office will "handle the
matter further, should it become
necessary."

CNN