DAVID HARRIS PRESS RELEASE

The Office of the District Attorney received for review the final report of the Northeast Louisiana Sheriff’s Investigative Unit pertaining to the in-custody death of David Harris on April 3, 2021. The purpose for said review was for the determination of criminal wrongdoing. After careful review of the written reports, recorded statements of witnesses, numerous officer body-camera videos and the autopsy report, the District Attorney has determined there was no criminal wrongdoing on the part of the police. Mr. Harris was under the influence of phencyclidine and methamphetamine when the officers encountered him. They took him to the hospital to try to get him medical assistance. Upon arriving at the hospital, Mr. Harris became extremely combative and fought the officers excessively. The autopsy report finding was “cardiopulmonary arrest following physical restraint, exertion and struggle with drive stun conductive electrical device application, in the setting of phencyclidine and methamphetamine intoxication, complicated by hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.” The officers’ actions relating to Mr. Harris on April 3, 2021, were appropriate. There is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the officers and no further actions in this matter will be taken. The Office of the District Attorney has met with David Harris’ family, expressed our condolences concerning his death and informed them of the results of the review in this matter.