Jan 23, 2008 5:56 pm US/Eastern
Rally Held For Teen Who Died At Bowling Brook
WESTMINSTER, Md. (WJZ) ―
The family of a teenager who suffocated while restrained at a juvenile facility demanded justice Wednesday on the anniversary of his death.
Isaiah Simmons' family told Suzanne Collins the justice system and the juvenile system failed them.
With a re-enactment, Isaiah Simmons' sister described to the crowd at the Carroll County Courthouse how her brother died.
Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Simmons was restrained for bad behavior at the Bowling Brook Juvenile Detention Facility last January and became asphyxiated. Six counselors have been charged with reckless endangerment after delaying calling 911.
"Today we're holding this rally to commemorate the death of Isaiah, but also to call attention to the fact it's one year later and there's not yet been any justice for him," said Danielle Carter, Simmons' sister.
The family wanted stiffer manslaughter charges. The head of the Baltimore NAACP blames the Carroll County state's attorney who presented the case to the grand jury.
"It is clear this state's attorney did not value from our vantage point this African-American's life. How do you go for a misdemeanor? All they charge them with is endangered. They didn't endanger his life, they took his life," said Marvin "Doc" Cheatham, Baltimore NAACP President.
Carroll State's Attorney Jerry Barnes refuses to comment on the criticism.
In the re-enactment the man playing Simmons is lifted outside to help him come to, but he remains unconscious. It brings family and friends to tears.
"I think about my son all the time. I miss him, I miss time with him," said Felicia Wilson, Simmons' mother.
On Friday at the Carroll County Circuit Court, counselors will be asking a judge to throw out the cases against them for reckless endangerment. If that's not granted some of them go on trial in early February.
The family says it hopes money the governor is proposing to reform the juvenile system will make it safer for others, even if Isaiah is gone.
The maximum penalty the counselors are facing for reckless endangerment is five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
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