Federal lawsuit filed over after Oklahoma prisoner’s death

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The brother of a man strangled to death while restrained by staff at the Caddo County Detention Center has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit alleging jailers used excessive force and failed to provide adequate medical care.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court by Ancio Robinson, whose brother Darius Randell Robinson died on April 4 while being held at the jail located about 60 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.

An autopsy performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that 41-year-old Darius Robinson died from asphyxiation caused by "manual compression of the neck." The lawsuit filed on Aug. 24 alleges the force used on Robinson "was excessive, unsafe and disproportionate."

A grand jury decided earlier this month that no charges would be filed in Robinson's death.