Louisiana police officers attempted to arrest Keeven Robinson on cocaine and heroin trafficking charges. But police eventually captured the fleeing Robinson in a foot chase. He struggled to break free but died in that ensuing struggle.
Jefferson Parish considered bringing criminal charges against the responding officers. In the course of their investigation, the District Attorney engaged The Forensic Panel to undertake a medical death investigation, considering the cause and manner of death, Robinson’s medical background, the specific actions of the police and how they related to his dying.
The Forensic Panel’s examination was spearheaded by a forensic pathologist who received peer review from three forensic pathologists and a critical care/pulmonary medicine specialist. The findings concluded that death resulted from compression asphyxia and blunt trauma; no chokehold was identified, nor did the substances in Mr. Robinson’s body contribute to his death. The findings were and accepted by criminal and civil authorities. No criminal charges were brought; civil claims were settled for 300,000 dollars and there was no further community strife attached to this high profile claim of police misconduct.
