Emily Satchell, WAVY – PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The Portsmouth branch of the NAACP says security footage from outside Jamycheal Mitchell's jail cell was recently discovered. Now, they're calling on Hampton Roads Regional Jail officials to release it.
In a news release sent Monday, the Portsmouth NAACP said:
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The decision by Jail Superintendent David Simons not to release the video footage just further heightens the level of distrust and frustration. Jamycheal's family and the Portsmouth community deserves full transparency in this process. Having auto responses of, ‘It's a part of an investigation,' is no longer acceptable, especially since this incident happened almost a year ago."
The organization says officials originally stated that video from outside Mitchell's cell was recorded over.
10 On Your Side sat down with the Portsmouth NAACP President James Boyd.
"If the video exists then they should come out and say it. There have been multiple reports, even omissions from the jail that it does, so we believe it should be open to the community," said Boyd. "We believe it does exist."
Mitchell was found dead in his cell at Hampton Roads Regional Jail on Aug. 19, 2015. A state investigation showed that Mitchell died of starvation while waiting to be transferred to Eastern State Hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Mitchell's family has filed a $60 million wrongful death lawsuit.
The jail has filed an opposition to the Mitchell family's wrongful death suit. Jail officials have said that their own investigation "revealed no breach of HRRJ policies or procedures, and no criminal action or negligence by HRRJ staff."
"Having this auto response [from the jail] that there is part of an investigation [still happening] or the silence, it's not good enough," said Boyd. "Especially in this process, a year out from the incident happening, it's not good enough for the community."
The Portsmouth NAACP is also renewing its call to have federal investigators look into Mitchell's death. The organization, along with six other groups, called for an investigation by the Department of Justice in June.
The FBI responded with a statement, saying they were aware of the situation and were evaluating whether or not a federal civil rights investigation is warranted.