“Killed by Police Over Eight Dollars – Ethan Saylor’s Story” - OutOfExile

Content Warning: Disability and Police Violence (May be disturbing to some)

On January 12, 2013, 26-year-old Ethan Saylor of New Market Maryland, went to the movies to see “Zero Dark Thirty”, for the second time. After the movie, his caregiver went to bring her car to the front of the theater, while Ethan waited inside. Being his favorite, Ethan snuck back in to watch the movie again, while she was gone.

The theater manager told him that, he would have to buy a ticket, or leave but, he refused. Ethan had Down Syndrome and did not understand, nor did he handle money. Not disturbing anyone, he was watching the movie, when the theater manager summoned mall security to have Ethan removed. His caregiver returned, pleading with the manager and one of the security guards, as she attempted to de-escalate the interaction. She begged with them not to touch Ethan, and requested to speak with him. She was ignored and not allowed to go to Ethan.

The mall security guards that responded, were actually off-duty Frederick County Maryland deputies, moonlighting as security guards. When one of them told Ethan that he had to leave, Ethan again refused, and began to swear in protest. Two other moonlighting deputies came to “assist” in removing Ethan from the theater. The three veteran officers, Lt. Scott Jewell, Sgt. Rich Rochford, and Deputy James Harris, forcibly pulled Ethan out of his seat and tried to handcuff him. As they say, “a struggle ensued”, and Ethan was taken to the ground by the three deputies.

With Ethan on his stomach, at least one eyewitness account cited, one officer had his knee pressing on the man’s back. It also stated that Ethan was heard crying out, “MOMMY, IT HURT!”. At this point, as I wipe the tears from my eyes, I have to ask the question; were these men were stupid, or just callously evil . They were sworn to “serve and protect”. It should have been plainly obvious, that Ethan Saylor was, as some laws word it, a “vulnerable adult” with disabilities.

A few months later, a Frederick News Post story stated:

“Saylor cursed and resisted the deputies, and he was briefly handcuffed with three sets of cuffs linked together, according to the sheriff’s office. Saylor ended up on the floor during the struggle and had a medical emergency. He was taken to Frederick Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the sheriff’s office said.”

The Frederick County Sheriff’s office investigated, and report from the Maryland Atty. Gen.’s office released later, said in part:

“The opinion of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was that a 25 year old Caucasian male ROBERT ETHAN SAYLOR, died of ASPHYXIA. Down’s Syndrome, Obesity, Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, and Accessory Conduction Pathways of Heart, are also significant conditions…This individual was already compromised by his Down’s Syndrome, obesity, body habitus, and heart disease, making him more susceptible to sudden death in stressful conditions which would compromise his breathing. Using the medical definition of homicide (but for the actions of other individuals Mr. Saylor would not have died), the manner of death is best certified as HOMICIDE”.

In April of the same year, another news source reported about injuries to Ethan’s face and cartilage in his neck, “which has yet to be explained”:

“The autopsy revealed Saylor had bruises and abrasions on his face and body. And [sic] another injury: a fracture to cartilage in Saylor’s throat. Experts say it’s an unusual injury to see in a choking case. A forensic pathologist not familiar with case [SIC] says the injury happens from some kind of force… It can be seen in a manual strangulation, ” says Dr. John Hunsaker, a forensic pathologist and expert witness. “But in and of itself, one would be difficult to diagnose without more information. And it can occur as a result of a direct blow.”

The use of three sets of handcuffs is a tactic referred to as “hog-tying”, in which the ankles and wrists are restrained and connected to each other with the third. In 1995, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) warned police departments across the country, this tactic could interfere with the ability to breathe, and cause death. This “hog tying” tactic has been banned in N.Y., California and other states, yet many departments still use this method to restrain people.

To be clear in regard to the sheriff’s worded claim of a “medical emergency”, Ethan’s larynx was crushed, and at least one of the sources below, use the words “broken bones” in his neck. Despite the homicide ruling, 17 eyewitness account statements, and Dr. Hunsaker’s statements, a Maryland grand jury refused to indict the deputies for the murder of Ethan Saylor. One of the officers, Sgt. Rich Rochford, was later “quietly hired” by Frederick city Police Department, despite his involvement in the incident.

It seems, I write about these horrific instances of police violence against people with invisible disabilities, all the time. It’s certainly not because I enjoy them, and it is very emotionally taxing to do so. The fact is, situations like this occur so regularly, there’s too many stories to ignore. 50% of people killed by police in the US have a disability, and unfortunately, many people never hear about, or care about stories like this. Many seem too busy fighting about colors or wooden hammers.

How many of you have heard of Ethan Saylor, Christian Glass, or Elijah McClain. I feel that telling their stories to wake people up, is the first step in inspiring them to stand against these recurring injustices, facing the invisibly disabled community. Ethan, is just another tragic example of the senseless, hateful, authoritarian murders of otherwise, innocent people. He was killed over an eight dollar movie theater ticket, to put things in perspective. Stories like Ethan’s, are one of the main reasons I do what I do, and the support for the cause of people with invisible disabilities, is paramount to stop these tragedies. The support is also, very much appreciated.