hi can you use your platform to boost the story of Marvin Scott? arrested for smelling "suspicious" then he was killed in police custody while having a mental episode...absolutely gut wrenching. i haven't seen much about him but BLACK LIVES will ALWAYS MATTER. justice for marvin!
thanks for letting me know about this, anon
Family of Marvin Scott Pledges to Protest Daily Until Justice Served
On Sunday, March 14, Marvin D. Scott III was hanging out at the Allen Premium Outlets when he was detained by Allen Police for being in "mental distress" and later arrested for possession of less than two ounces of cannabis (which he used to alleviate health issues). On Monday, March 15, his mother, Lasandra Scott, received a text message from the Collin County Medical Examiner informing her that Marvin had died.
"My brother was arrested for smoking a joint at the Allen outlet mall, and the next day he was dead," says Quinten Scott, Marvin’s brother, who remembers Marvin as a kind and creative soul. "He was very, very creative, like he used to draw all the time. I loved his drawings, they were so beautiful."
According to lawyer and civil rights activist Lee Merritt, Marvin had been given medication and returned to his family on previous detainments. But this time, that didn’t happen:
"The reason that he was taken into custody was really his mental health issue and that’s primarily our concern, that people with mental health issues are being treated more criminally than the general population."
Marvin was initially held in the general population holding cell and later moved to solitary confinement after he began to exhibit signs of distress. After he further deteriorated, and officers believed he might self-harm, several police officers began to restrain him.
Merritt believes there are other contributing factors that place the responsibility on Collin County. "There’s contributing factors which are clear in the video that has not been released... the unlawful restraint, the mace, the spit hood, and the struggle," Merritt said at the March 23rd press conference.
They were also supported by Kevin Tarver, the father of Darius Tarver, who was shot by Denton police in early 2020. Kevin is a police officer and he wants to see the end to policies that shield bad cops, like qualified immunity.
The Scott family wants to see the seven officers involved arrested. Merritt believes there is enough probable cause to justify their arrests. But the Collin County Sheriff’s department has declined to do so, citing the ongoing investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety, even though the Sheriff’s office is also involved in part of the investigation, and the Collin County Prosecutor’s office has yet to become involved.
The Scott family is not satisfied with this response. "We will protest every day until they are arrested. Show up and show out to the protests. Call Sheriff Skinner, call the Texas Rangers, call Attorney General Ken Paxton, and demand justice for Marvin," says LaChay Batts, Marvin’s sister.
