Collin County jail inmate dies, another hospitalized 12:30 PM CT

By TIARA M. ELLIS / The Dallas Morning News [e-mail] A Collin County Jail inmate died after being restrained by officers over the weekend and another remains hospitalized after a suicide attempt, ...

[MAD in TN]

It is all too common to hear of young black men going to the local jails and never coming out. Just based on the information provided in this article, it certainly appears that the officers that were "restraining" this young man, went too far. And this article is followed by another inmate at the same location "trying to hang himself" with a piece of gauze?! Something seems to be very wrong with this scene.

[Jada]

This is so sad to hear about another young black male dying in the "custody" of officers at a jail!!! But of course he was made out to seem like the bad guy, when I'm sure he did nothing in the state of TX in the first place! What's the ratio of black to white in that county?? I'm willing to bet it's 94% white and all the remaining races make up the 6%. Something NEEDS to be done so this NEVER happens again!! I'm sure his family wants the truth!

[Sharon Atlanta GA]

This is not called for. There are too many people dieing in police custody. Something has got to be done. But it seems like no one ever wants to do anything until it is one of there own. Now I didn't know Marcus Elliot, but I did know his sister (who just escaped death herself), No mother should have to go through this twice in one year.

If Marcus was fighting back than that means he was still alive when the found him, so what happend- I bet even if someone knew; they ain't talking.

[T in ATL]

The death of Marcus cannot be justified with this article and whatever they are trying to claim at the jail. It is not just or moral to abuse a law enforcement position and bully citizens, regardless of their "activities" that may have put them in jail. There should be an investigation into the death of Marcus and the other inmate.

[EVEDYAHU BEN YISRAEL]

Again the WHITE SOUTH has destroyed another black male and his family.This story (lie) has to be as old as telling your teacher you lost your homework.collin county is one of hundreds of counties in the south where it always takes 6 or 7 fat ass pigs (police officers)to subdue small males. WELL GOD IS GOT TO HEAR THE PRAYERS OF THE MEEK AND SHALL AVENGE HIS DEATH. WE ALWAYS PRAY FOR PEACE. NOW WE MUST PRAY TO THE MOST HIGH TO TAKE THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE MURDERS WHO HAS ENDED THIS YOUNG BROTHERS LIFE.

TO THE PIGS WHO HAS ENDED THIS YOUNG MAN'S LIFE I SHALL PRAY TO GOD FOR EQUAL JUSTICE. AND HOPE YOU ALL LOOSE YOU OWN SON, DAUGHTER,MOTHER OR FATHER IN A SIMILAR FASION.
YOU WILL LEARN ANY WEAPON FORMED AGAINST MY POEPLE SHALL NOT PROSPER..
TO THE FAMILY MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU THE PIGS KILLED ONE OF MY BROTHERS TOO...
TOGETHER WE STAND STRONG JUSTICE IS ON OUR SIDE

[CHARLES SPENCER]

HOW MANY YOUNG BLACK MEN MUST DIE IN THIS COUNTRY! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! WE CAN NOT STAND FOR ANYMORE POLICE BRUTALITY, IT IS 2007 AND THEY ARE STILL LYNCHING BLACK MEN!!! THIS IS CRAZY!!! OUR LIVES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS EVERY OTHER PERSONS LIFE! HOW MANY FUTURE KINGS, MALCOMS, DREWS, TILLS, EVERS, LEADERS, DOCTORS, TEACHERS, FATHERS, HUSBANDS, BROTHERS, AND SONS MUST THEY HANG!
THIS MUST STOP!!!
NOW!

[MJM]

Jada wrote:

This is so sad to hear about another young black male dying in the "custody" of officers at a jail!!! But of course he was made out to seem like the bad guy, when I'm sure he did nothing in the state of TX in the first place! What's the ratio of black to white in that county?? I'm willing to bet it's 94% white and all the remaining races make up the 6%. Something NEEDS to be done so this NEVER happens again!! I'm sure his family wants the truth!

Over 10% Latino, over 10% Asian, and over 5% black.

Don't exxxxxaggggerate.

[MJM]

"Mr. Elliott was arrested Thursday by Plano police on five robbery warrants and one escape warrant from Georgia. Collin County Jail staffers placed Mr. Elliot on special watch because of statements he made. "

5? Five robbery warrants? And you lament this passing?

[CHARLES SPENCER]

T in ATL wrote:

The death of Marcus cannot be justified with this article and whatever they are trying to claim at the jail. It is not just or moral to abuse a law enforcement position and bully citizens, regardless of their "activities" that may have put them in jail. There should be an investigation into the death of Marcus and the other inmate.

THE DEATHS OF THESE MEN CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED!

[MAD in GA]

MJM wrote:

"Mr. Elliott was arrested Thursday by Plano police on five robbery warrants and one escape warrant from Georgia. Collin County Jail staffers placed Mr. Elliot on special watch because of statements he made. "
5? Five robbery warrants? And you lament this passing?

We do not know the background facts on this matter or if these are exaggerated charges. Remember the Collin County May 27, 2007 article, "Mistaken Identity Arrest Leads to Police Apology," only AFTER media exposure of Hernandez's situation. And even so, no human deserves this to happen while in custody. Would you like it to happen to you or a relative? But then, you're a part of the neighborhood since Garland, Texas is close to that community. Need I say more... It's so easy to be judgmental when you don't have the facts.

[Mad in CA]

MJM wrote:

"Mr. Elliott was arrested Thursday by Plano police on five robbery warrants and one escape warrant from Georgia. Collin County Jail staffers placed Mr. Elliot on special watch because of statements he made. "
5? Five robbery warrants? And you lament this passing?

How dare you! No matter how many (false?) arrests or warrants Mr. Elliott had, the fact remains that he WAS a human being and should not be beaten like an animal. This was somebody's son, somebody's brother. Would you lament the passing if this were your child?

[Tryce]

This reminds me of the case that happened back in the early 90's in Las Angles CA. The Rodney King Riot. Again police have used to much force to properly handle a situation in regards to a BLACK man. The only difference is Rodney King lived to tell and see (televised) his matter. Marcus didnt stand a chance. It really has outraged me. And the statement "Can we all just get along" is still absent in our communities. When does it stop? There are so many cses that go untold in every state. Stories are sweaped under the rug, and left there collecting more dust. When will justice prevail? God is still in control; and when it is all said and done I do belive that justice will prevail. It just does not happen when we want it too.

[maria]

MJM wrote:

"Mr. Elliott was arrested Thursday by Plano police on five robbery warrants and one escape warrant from Georgia. Collin County Jail staffers placed Mr. Elliot on special watch because of statements he made. "
5? Five robbery warrants? And you lament this passing?

Bitch!!! it doesn't matter what he done....he was somebody's son, brother, friend....because he was ACCUSED of committing 5 robberies it doesn't give the right for ANY human being to take his life.....how dare you ask if we lament his passing??????????

[maria]

OBSERVING wrote:

after reading the story, I'm sure the world is enhanced with this thugs sudden departure.

*****YOU MUST BE JUST LIKE ONE OF THOSE CRACKERS THAT KILLED MARCUS??????? A PIG!!!!!!!

[Evo from the A]

Why so man officers to hold down a 130 lb man??? Doesnt make any sense!?! Why the bruises on his face?? This just aint right

[ROSETTA MILLER PERRY]

Killing of our Children

Marcus was tortured and murdered by grey racist pigs. How many African Americans have been slaughtered in Bush Country by these same grey pigs? Why is the grey media silent on the atrocities of that jail system there? Can they tell us how many African Americans have been killed there in the last 20 years? How many (sucides? Are they part of the problem?

And to that low life cracker jerk - Five robbery warrants? And you lament this passing. I lament the passing of your mother for giving birth to a mentally ill person. So let me draw the parallel of a robbery,if you have you can understand a simple thing. Instead of robbing a bank for money, the United States is robbing a nation for its oil - to make rich oil men even richer. You are a poor cracker so you don't count. Killing our young black men in Iraq for oil - and who is robbing who grey jerk? Robbing our African American Youth
of their life for oil. Marcus didn't kill anyone.

How many in custody killings (sucides)do we have in that jail?
Are the same personel always on site when a sucide (murder) takes place?

I believe that Physical abuse of African American prisoners in that jail takes place with little public knowledge or concern.
Some of the worst abuses in jails
have occured in Texas under the Bush Administration.

So what if an imnate refuses to eat - that his right. Why would anyone try to force him to eat?

Why is anything available in a cell where a person is on sucide watch?

Finaly, it walks like murder, talks like murder, smells like murder, covered up like murder and it is murder.

[Spencer]

The picture painted of the victim indicates a dangerous felon. If that's the case, why was he released? Most likely, this information is inaccurate. If a person gets arrested once, but has five parole violations, his record would indicate "five robbery warrants." Without further information, I bet this is the case. A man with five robbery warrants, is not the same as one with five robbery convictions. Every parole violation will result in another warrant being issued for his arrest for the same initial crime.
America is a nation of laws, not of men. Jailers are not supposed to be executioners.
Those who find justification in this death, whether white or black are ignorant, and should think things through before using this tragic episode as a springboard to engage in their vile divisiveness.
Disappointed in Texas.

[MJM]

Mad in CA wrote:

<quoted text>
How dare you! No matter how many (false?) arrests or warrants Mr. Elliott had, the fact remains that he WAS a human being and should not be beaten like an animal. This was somebody's son, somebody's brother. Would you lament the passing if this were your child?

I don't know one way or another if the police were following procedure or not.

"Jailers noticed Mr. Elliott lying on his bunk with a thread around his neck. As officers tried to remove the string, Mr. Elliott began kicking and swinging at them, Lt. Norton said. After restraining him, a nurse checked him and discovered he was not breathing. "

I do know that kicking and swinging at police officers is a good way to get hurt.

[MJM]

maria wrote:

<quoted text>
Bitch!!! it doesn't matter what he done....he was somebody's son, brother, friend....because he was ACCUSED of committing 5 robberies it doesn't give the right for ANY human being to take his life.....how dare you ask if we lament his passing??????????

Oooh, name calling. That's going to help this discussion. What are you, 12?

Back to the subject, he DID escape from jail, we know that, he did hide, and he was in jail for some other crime he committed in Georgia.

My question is why are you immediately coming to his defense? This was obviously a repeat criminal.

[Sup yall]

If he wasn't doin' the crime (well in this case crimes)then he shouldn't be doin' the time. 5 robbery warrants and 1 escape warrant hum what's would have been next ?????

MJM wrote:

"Mr. Elliott was arrested Thursday by Plano police on five robbery warrants and one escape warrant from Georgia. Collin County Jail staffers placed Mr. Elliot on special watch because of statements he made. "
5? Five robbery warrants? And you lament this passing?