Gerald Neal death: Attorney Ben Crump demands 'transparency' in Orlando man's death
Family hires attorney Ben Crump after deadly OPD chase
The family of Gerald Neal, a man who was hit and killed by a suspect being chased by police in February, hired attorney Ben Crump. They are suing the Orlando Police Department over the deadly chase.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Attorney Ben Crump was in Orlando on Thursday to "demand transparency" from the Orlando Police Department in the death of Gerald Neal, a man who was hit and killed by a suspect being chased by police in February. You can watch Crump's full remarks in the video player above.
What we know:
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, on Feb. 12, Orlando police officers in an unmarked Ford F-150 pickup truck were reportedly in pursuit of a suspect that had driven away from them.
During that apparent pursuit, the suspected driver struck Gerald Neal, 56, as he was walking near Rio Grande Avenue and Indiana Street, FHP said.
FHP is the lead agency on the crash investigation. OPD will conduct its own internal investigation, following the conclusion of FHP's investigations, the agency said.
Ben Crump represents family of pedestrian killed in OPD pursuit
Ben Crump holds news conference representing the family of Gerald Neal, the pedestrian who was struck and killed during an Orlando Police Department vehicle pursuit.
FHP said Dornell Bargnare, the suspect Orlando police were after, did not have his headlines or taillights on while driving at night. He reportedly lost control of his vehicle during the pursuit, struck Neal, and then hit a wooden utility pole, FHP said.
Neal died at the hospital.
Bargnare was eventually caught and booked into jail on charges of burglary of a dwelling and resisting officers without violence.
On Feb. 17, he was also charged with aggravated fleeing to elude causing great bodily harm or death connected to the death of Neal, according to online court documents.
Previous coverage: Man killed by suspect driving away from Orlando police
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that left a man dead in Orange County on Wednesday night. The collision happened as Orlando police were pursuing a car that was attempting to flee from an officer, troopers said. The suspect, identified as Dornell Bargnare, was taken into custody.
Orlando police said Gargnare was initially stopped because he had an unreadable license plate, according to the arrest warrant.
Ben Crump: "Demand transparency"
Ben Crump held a news conference Thursday stating that his office wants to see the bodycam and dashcam video from Orlando police.
"We are very frustrated to have yet again Orlando Police Department kill a member of our community as a result of an unnecessary and unjustifiable and an unconstitutional high-speed chase," Crump said.
"We need the Orlando police chief to explain not just to this family, but to the community. Why was this car doing a high-speed chase? Just because it was an unreadable license plate?"
Who was Gerald Neal?
According to Crump's Office, Neal was a 56-year-old man. He was recently homeless, Crump said.
Shaquil Neal, Neal's daughter, spoke at the press conference.
"My dad was very loved. Very, very loved. He left behind five grandkids," she said, adding that her dad had experienced a lot of loss in recent years.
"In a year's time, my father lost his wife and then my brother. And then my grandmother. He chose to be homeless. That was his way of grieving," she said. She said her dad "always had somewhere to go." She said she moved here from New York two years ago and that her dad stayed with her, but left to live on the street.
Officer placed on paid administrative leave
What they're saying:
"The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is leading the investigation into this incident. We want to respect the integrity of this investigation while remaining sensitive to the needs of those affected. As an agency, we send our condolences to the Neal family and will make every effort to meet with them.
Once FHP completes its investigation, the officer involved will undergo an Internal Affairs investigation to determine whether any violations of OPD’s Vehicle Pursuits and Apprehension policy occurred. If violations are found, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. As noted in our media release on February 20, Officer Christopher Moulton has been relieved of duty.
OPD’s Vehicle Pursuits and Apprehension policy is strong and aligns with most agencies in Florida. Orlando Police Department policies are routinely reviewed to meet standards and adapt to any necessary changes. Since January 2022, OPD has conducted 154,992 traffic stops. 3% of those drivers fled from OPD. Of those, five were deemed in violation of our Vehicle Pursuits and Apprehension policy.
We aim to be transparent, as we are guided by strict policies and procedures, and we will release information as soon as we are able without compromising the investigations. Regarding requests for dash cam footage, the vehicle driven by the officer was not equipped with a dash cam. However, as standard procedure, body-worn camera footage and additional documentation will be available once the investigation concludes.
OPD deferred all investigative questions to FHP.
Who is Ben Crump?
Ben Crump is a nationally recognized civil rights and personal injury attorney, renowned for representing families in high-profile cases, including those of George Floyd and Trayvon Martin.
Crump earned his undergraduate degree from Florida State University (FSU) and his law degree from FSU College of Law. He is married to Dr. Genae Angelique Crump.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
- Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines
- Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar
- Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines
- FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV
The Source: This story was written based on information provided by officials, including the Florida Highway Patrol. Additional details were provided in a Ben Crump Law press release.