DAYTON — The death of a 26-year-old inmate at the Montgomery County Jail has been ruled a homicide.
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The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office determined 26-year-old Christian Black’s manner of death was a homicide, according to a release sent out to media outlets on Friday.
They also determined that his cause of death was mechanical and positional asphyxia. On Thursday, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said Black likely died from positional asphyxia.
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Black was arrested by Englewood Police after crashing a stolen car, jumping a fence, and trying to swim away from officers.
The sheriff’s office previously said he had repeated confrontations with corrections officers after being booked in the Montgomery County Jail.
They said he repeatedly banged his head against his cell door and again tried to fight staff, prompting them to tase and use pepper spray on him before putting him in a restraint chair.
Black lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital. He died two days later, on March 26.
Black’s family strongly disagrees with the version of events and hired a Dayton law firm to represent them.
The family watched some of the jail videos with their attorneys and Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck on Thursday.
They declined to speak to News Center 7 on Friday, but released a statement through their attorneys.
“After watching the horrific video, it is clear to the family why the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office ruled Mr. Black’s death a homicide,” the statement read in part.
As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, the statement went on to say that after Black was restrained, he was “tased and placed in a headlock, all while he struggled to breathe.”
“The video clearly shows that not a single jail employee offered any life-saving measures as Mr. Black was dying right in front of them,” the statement read.
The sheriff’s office announced on Thursday that all 10 employees involved in Black’s restraint have been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.
Black’s family wants criminal charges brought against all of the employees involved.
His family also noted Black was an organ donor. He donated his lungs and a kidney.
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