Leon Brackens

Less-than-lethal force

Physically slight and suffering from sickle-cell anemia, Brackens was an involuntary participant in a police chase. He can be heard in a call to the police pleading for help. As video evidence shows when the car stopped a group of officers beat the unarmed, unthreatening, cooperative Brackens mercilessly, leaving him permanently disfigured and wheelchair bound. He died of the injuries eight months later.