The family of a DeLand man run over and killed by a police cruiser in May released previously-unseen video of the fatal crash.
Marlon Brown's former wife, Krystal Brown, and high-profile attorney Benjamin Crump also called for an independent investigation of the fatal crash.
The move comes a week after a grand jury decided not to indict former rookie Officer James Harris in the death of Marlon Brown, 38, who a medical examiner said died when he slipped while running from police May 8 and was pinned under the car.
Brown had refused to stop for a deputy who tried to pull him over for a seat-belt violation.
Although he was not criminally charged, Harris was fired May 31.
Crump is calling for an independent investigation by authorities from outside the DeLand area be held to determine if charges should be filed.
The release of the video is unusual because such images are typically exempt from public release under Florida law.
However, the law allows agencies to release death videos to authorized family members.
In this case, Krystal Brown -- not a public agency -- released the video.
It shows Marlon Brown running from the officer's patrol car through some woods. Then it shows Brown turn toward the patrol car just before the impact.
The release, as well as a media briefing, happened a news conference at 4 p.m. at the Chisholm Community Center in DeLand.
The city of DeLand recently agreed to pay $550,000 to Brown's family to avoid litigation related to the crash.
It admitted no wrongdoing in that agreement.
Crump's involvement in today's event is also noteworthy.
He became an international figure as an attorney for the parents of Travyon Martin, the 17-year-old who was gunned down in Sanford in February 2012.
George Zimmerman, a Neighborhood Watch volunteer, said he fatally shot the teen in self-defense.
Zimmerman was found not guilty of murder July 13.
Copyright 2013 - Orlando Sentinel
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
