Mental ill Woman Dies after Police Use Takedown Move

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Do police have enough training to handle the mental ill?

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) – The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death of a woman who died while handcuffed by Cleveland Police.

It happened after an incident Wednesday night on Ansel Rd. Relatives called police twice to the home saying 37-year-old Tanisha Anderson had mental health issues, and she was acting out.


The second time, police say they tried to put her in a patrol car to take her for a psych evaluation. But they say she resisted violently. Her brother says police used a “take-down” move and went too far.

Police say the woman’s body went limp, so the officers called for a supervisor and an ambulance.

The police union says the woman did not die at the scene. She had a pulse there and also in the ambulance. And the chief’s office say police did not use any weapons like pepper spray or a taser.

Now, the wait for the medical examiner to determine the cause of death.

The woman’s family hopes this case puts a spotlight on dealing with mental health cases.

Source: 19 Action News