The New York State Commission of Correction has concluded that Richard Metcalf's death after being incarcerated in the Erie County Holding Center in November 2012 was a homicide as a result of "traumatic asphyxia" with compression of the torso and neck.
State investigators blame Holding Center deputies for improperly restraining Metcalf after they found the 35-year-old in his cell trying to hurt himself by banging his head on the wall, biting himself, picking at scabs with a fork and spitting up blood.
The report was critical of the Holding Center for not recognizing the signs of "acute psychosis" and having Metcalf taken for emergency psychiatric treatment.
Following the issuance of the report, Metcalf's father talked with 7 Eyewitness News.
"To us, our family and friends, there was no suspecting because we knew. We knew in our hearts what happened. Maybe not the specific details and how it happened, but we knew my son's life was taken from him." said Richard Metcalf from Lancaster.
Attorneys for the Metcalf family filed lawsuits over the death in 2013 in New York State Supreme Court. The Commission of Correction's investigation is now seen as vindication of their efforts, added Metcalf's father
7 Eyewitness News reporter Ed Reilly talked with both the father and his legal team today.
You can read the full report from the Commission of Corrections here: https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3144755/NYS-Corrections-Metcalf-final-report-10-18-16.pdf
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