Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Video shows struggle that preceded restrained teen’s death
This still image from a security camera provided by Sedgwick County shows Cedric "CJ" Lofton struggling with staff on September 24, 2021 at the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center in Wichita, Kansas. Sedgwick County released 18 video clips late Friday, January 21, 2022, of what happened before Lofton was rushed to a hospital on September 24. He died two days later. (Sedgwick County via AP)
Latest News
January 21, 2022

Video shows struggle that preceded restrained teen’s death

WICHITA, Kansas (AP) — Surveillance video shows a Black 17-year-old struggling with staff at a Wichita juvenile centre last fall before he died after he was restrained facedown for more than 30 minutes.

Sedgwick County released 18 video clips late Friday afternoon of what happened before Cedric Lofton was rushed to a hospital on September 24. He died two days later.

The release of the clips followed Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett’s announcement Tuesday that the state’s “stand-your-ground” law prevented him from pressing charges because staff members were protecting themselves. He also said he struggled with whether an involuntary manslaughter charge was justified, but concluded it was not.

Sedgwick County’s webpage crashed after the video was posted, making it temporarily inaccessible. But it was back up by late Saturday afternoon. The hours of footage didn’t include audio.

One video shows several officers carrying Lofton into the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center while restrained in something called the WRAP, a device comprised of a locking shoulder harness, leg restraints and ankle straps. The sheriff’s office describes it as a way to restrain a person who is “out of control” so that they don’t hurt themselves or others.

According to Bennett’s report, Lofton had become paranoid and was hallucinating. His foster father said the situation got worse after the teen attended his grandmother’s funeral. At a foster official’s urging, the foster father drove Lofton to a mental health provider, but he walked away. When Lofton returned home, foster officials told the foster father to call police.

But the 5-foot-10, 135-pound Lofton resisted the officers who responded to the home, assaulting at least one of them, Bennett’s report said.

The WRAP was removed at the juvenile intake centre, according to Bennett’s report. An unrestrained Lofton walked out of his holding cell and then tried to grab a computer monitor from the intake counter.

The video shows him resisting attempts to place him back in the holding cell. At one point, he can be seen punching one of the juvenile detention employees in the head.

The video shows detention workers wrestle him into the cell and more employees showing up to help. The camera doesn’t show a close angle of what is happening inside the cell.

Bennett’s report said staff shackled Lofton’s ankles and put him on his stomach on the floor. His report said Cedric was “mumbling” at times, repeated that he was Jesus and saying staff should kill themselves and that he would “hex” them. Staff noticed he wasn’t breathing after they called to arrange for Loftin to be taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Eventually, the video appears to show workers flip Lofton onto his back and start CPR. The staff scramble around before paramedics arrive and load the teen onto a gurney.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Jamaica’s Likkle More Chocolate cops five international awards
Latest News, Lifestyle
Jamaica’s Likkle More Chocolate cops five international awards
February 15, 2026
Jamaica's Likkle More Chocolate , crafted by award-winning fine pastry chef and artisan chocolatier Nadine Burie, is a big winner in the UK-based Acad...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
A night of British reggae
Entertainment, Latest News
A night of British reggae
February 15, 2026
Amid the racial turmoil in Britain's West Indian communities during the late 1970s, a mellow sound called lovers' rock emerged in that country. It exp...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
SIGMA Run exceeds $150m target for western Jamaica beneficiaries,
Latest News, News
SIGMA Run exceeds $150m target for western Jamaica beneficiaries,
February 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The 2026 staging of the Sagicor SIGMA Corporate Run raised more than J$152 million, exceeding its ambitious J$150 million target f...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Quadruple chasing Arsenal rout Wigan to reach FA Cup fifth round
Latest News, Sports
Quadruple chasing Arsenal rout Wigan to reach FA Cup fifth round
February 15, 2026
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) —  Arsenal powered into the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years as the quadruple chasers crushed Wigan 4-0...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Former state ward appeals for funding to support law school dreams
Latest News, News
Former state ward appeals for funding to support law school dreams
February 15, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A high-achieving former ward of the state is appealing for public assistance to continue her journey to become an attorney. Vaness...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Shell apartments an answer to Jamaica’s housing affordability crisis?
Business, Latest News
Shell apartments an answer to Jamaica’s housing affordability crisis?
JULIAN RICHARDSON, Online content manager, richardsonj@jamaicaobserver.com 
February 15, 2026
Are shell apartments an answer to the affordability crisis in Jamaica’s housing market? Kingston-based real estate firm Spark FDI (name being changed ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Britain celebrate first-ever Olympic gold on snow after snowboard win
Latest News, Sports
Britain celebrate first-ever Olympic gold on snow after snowboard win
February 15, 2026
LIVIGNO, Italy (AFP) — Great Britain celebrated their first-ever Winter Olympics gold on snow on Sunday after Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale tea...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘Wuthering Heights’ debuts atop North America box office, GOAT in second spot
Entertainment, Latest News
‘Wuthering Heights’ debuts atop North America box office, GOAT in second spot
February 15, 2026
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Wuthering Heights , Emerald Fennell's steamy adaptation of the classic Emily Bronte novel, charmed moviegoers in No...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct