Crutcher Family Attorneys Speak To Media At Tulsa Courthouse Plaza

Sep 20, 2016 3:29 PM EDT
NEWSON6.COM

TULSA, Oklahoma - Representatives of the Terence Crutcher family held a news conference at 1:30 p.m. at the Tulsa courthouse plaza.

Crutcher, 40, was killed Friday after police came across his car stopped in the middle of 36th Street North near Lewis Avenue. Attorneys for the family members argued that the video released Monday shows police could have used less-than-lethal force.

Attorney David Riggs said they have heard discussion that Crutcher was under the influence of a drug at the time of his encounter with police. He said even if that turns out to be true, the shooting was not justified.

"If we started to condemn everybody to death who has drugs in their system, all our neighborhoods would be affected," said civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump.

Tulsa Police Department say police found a vial of PCP during a search of Terence Crutcher's SUV after the fatal shooting.

9/19/2016 Related Story: Terence Crutcher Family Demands Tulsa Officer Be Charged In Death

His family has acknowledged that Crutcher has had problems in the past but say he was trying to get his life together.

Records show Crutcher had just been released from prison in May after serving time on a drug trafficking charge and had outstanding warrants for resisting arrest, driving under suspension and obstructing an officer.