- by cnn
- 28 Mar 2024
Kevin Desir loved his family.
He loved his father, his mother, his four siblings, many cousins that he remained close with. Desir loved, deeply loved, his two daughters, the first grandchildren of the Desir family, his relatives said.
Desir had plans, including aspirations to buy a house for the two growing girls at the center of his life.
But on 13 January 2021, Desir was arrested for marijuana possession. Four days later the 43-year-old Black man was handcuffed, punched, tasered and pepper-sprayed by detention deputies at a notorious Florida jail. During the brutal 10-minute encounter, Desir became unresponsive. He never regained consciousness and 10 days later, he died.
Desir was arrested on 13 January 2021 for an alleged series of non-violent crimes: possession of marijuana, following too closely in a vehicle and a probation violation, and was transferred to the North Broward Bureau facility.
But in February 2021, a judge allowed the detention center surveillance video to be viewed by attorneys representing the Desir family, and Mikeco, under a confidentiality order that would prevent them from discussing its contents publicly.
After his 2021 arrest and detention, Desir was under psychological observation by jail staff, according to documents.
Premier announces changes to long-delayed project
read more