DENVER - It has been one month since a homeless pastor died while in custody at the new Denver Jail. On Tuesday, his family walked through the front doors of the Detention Center, hoping to find answers into Marvin Booker's death.
With tears on their cheeks the victim's father, mother, two brothers and sister stood on the steps of the jail. When they asked to visit the facility where Marvin died, the family was turned away.
"All we wanted to do was to walk the last walk of our loved one's life," said Spenser Booker, the victim's youngest brother.
The family was taken inside a conference room this afternoon and told they were not allowed inside the jail or to watch the surveillance video of the moments before he died.
"We've asked only to see the tape. Let us see the video. Let us see what happened," says Spenser Booker.
In the early morning hours of July 9th, Marvin Booker was taken into police custody for possession of drug paraphernalia. While in police custody, Booker was hit with a taser and later died.
The Booker family wants to know why there are no officers being held responsible for Marvin's death.
"How come they aren't on a leave of absence for their own psychological and spiritual strength knowing that someone died as a result of their hands being on them?" Spenser adds. "My brother is 5'4''. He weighed 140 pounds my brother has been sick a long time he was weak himself. And to hold him down the way witnesses account has come across our attention it was not necessary it was not necessary," Spenser says.
Jail authorities say security issues are preventing them from granting the family's requests.
"The city inexplicably has been so insensitive to this family. They will give no answers," says Darold Killmer the family's attorney. "They won't meet with this family and they've given them the run-around in a way that I've never seen before," he says.
"Denver should know better, unfortunately we've had tragedies like this in the past. Emily Rice is just the most recent one but there have been tragedy after tragedy and the city insists on doing business as usual," Killmer adds.
The Booker family says city and county officials must be hiding something.
"The more you run from us, the more you hide from us and don't talk with us without lawyers, the more suspicion grows," Spenser says. "We will get answers you can only hide so long."
Marvin Booker's 83-year-old father, Reverend Benjamin Booker joined his family in Denver Tuesday. He spoke through tears in his eyes. "I never thought I would have to burry one of my own children at my age they are supposed to be burying me. We want justice we're not going to win till we get it," he says.
According to the District Attorney's Office, they are awaiting the results from Marvin Booker's autopsy before they can form an investigation into his death. Until then, the Booker family will continue to wait for answers.
With tears on their cheeks the victim's father, mother, two brothers and sister stood on the steps of the jail. When they asked to visit the facility where Marvin died, the family was turned away.
The family was taken inside a conference room this afternoon and told they were not allowed inside the jail or to watch the surveillance video of the moments before he died.
"We've asked only to see the tape. Let us see the video. Let us see what happened," says Spenser Booker.
In the early morning hours of July 9th, Marvin Booker was taken into police custody for possession of drug paraphernalia. While in police custody, Booker was hit with a taser and later died.
The Booker family wants to know why there are no officers being held responsible for Marvin's death.
"How come they aren't on a leave of absence for their own psychological and spiritual strength knowing that someone died as a result of their hands being on them?" Spenser adds. "My brother is 5'4''. He weighed 140 pounds my brother has been sick a long time he was weak himself. And to hold him down the way witnesses account has come across our attention it was not necessary it was not necessary," Spenser says.
Jail authorities say security issues are preventing them from granting the family's requests.
"The city inexplicably has been so insensitive to this family. They will give no answers," says Darold Killmer the family's attorney. "They won't meet with this family and they've given them the run-around in a way that I've never seen before," he says.
"Denver should know better, unfortunately we've had tragedies like this in the past. Emily Rice is just the most recent one but there have been tragedy after tragedy and the city insists on doing business as usual," Killmer adds.
The Booker family says city and county officials must be hiding something.
"The more you run from us, the more you hide from us and don't talk with us without lawyers, the more suspicion grows," Spenser says. "We will get answers you can only hide so long."
Marvin Booker's 83-year-old father, Reverend Benjamin Booker joined his family in Denver Tuesday. He spoke through tears in his eyes. "I never thought I would have to burry one of my own children at my age they are supposed to be burying me. We want justice we're not going to win till we get it," he says.
According to the District Attorney's Office, they are awaiting the results from Marvin Booker's autopsy before they can form an investigation into his death. Until then, the Booker family will continue to wait for answers.
