In December 2018, 38-year-old former Army medic Mark Thompson was apprehended outside a Walmart in Palm Bay, Florida. Tragically, he was pronounced dead the following day while still in police custody. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office described Thompson’s death as resulting from a “medical emergency.” However, this statement neglected to acknowledge the violent treatment he received during his arrest.
Reports indicate that multiple officers—up to seven—used excessive force on Thompson after he failed to comply with directives during the booking process. They kicked, punched, pepper-sprayed, and tasered him, covered his head with a spit hood, restrained him in a chair, and isolated him in a room. About twenty minutes later, an officer noticed something was wrong and entered the room to remove the spit hood, only to find Thompson unresponsive. Despite efforts to revive him, he was later declared brain dead and removed from life support at the hospital.
A crucial detail that has emerged is that Thompson was suffering from PTSD and was likely experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of his arrest. His wife, Sarah Thompson, had informed the officers of her husband’s mental health struggles while they were still at Walmart. Mark had previously exhibited erratic behavior, leading to concerns about his well-being, especially during the holiday season—a period that often triggered his PTSD symptoms.
In 2017, Mark Thompson had received treatment for PTSD-related psychosis under the Baker Act, a Florida law enabling emergency mental health care for individuals unable to care for themselves. Prior to his 2018 arrest, Sarah had been worried about his mental state, fearing he might hurt himself.
Instead of providing the necessary psychological evaluation or treatment, authorities took the severely troubled veteran to jail. Surveillance footage from the jail captured the altercation, but both the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the state attorney’s office are refusing to release this footage. The official autopsy indicated the cause of death as “excited delirium” and complications arising from restraint, ruling it an accident. However, Dr. James A. Roberts, the chief medical examiner for the district, challenged these findings, stating that the autopsy did not conclusively determine what caused Thompson’s death.
Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who has previously limited external investigations into officer-involved incidents, has drawn criticism for his lack of accountability. His policies have raised concerns about the implications of a police force that operates without independent oversight.
In light of renewed public interest following the tragic death of George Floyd, the case of Mark Thompson has gained traction, with many community leaders demanding the release of the jail footage. Sheriff Ivey’s response has been dismissive, accusing local news outlets of inciting unrest. In the meantime, Sarah Thompson continues to seek justice for her husband, utilizing social media to raise awareness under the hashtag #justiceformark.
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In summary, Mark Thompson’s tragic death while in police custody raises serious questions about mental health care and police accountability. Despite his wife’s alerts regarding his mental health, he was not given appropriate evaluation or treatment, leading to a violent death. This incident highlights the urgent need for reforms in how law enforcement handles individuals experiencing mental health crises.