The attorney representing the estate of Edmond Exline, who died in West Virginia State Police custody in February 2023, has released body camera footage of the incident. John-Mark Atkinson of Atkinson and Frampton, with the consent of Exline’s son, made the decision to release the videos to raise awareness about the need for improved training in handling individuals with mental health issues.
Edmond Exline, a 44-year-old man with schizophrenia, passed away along Interstate 81 in Martinsburg. The case came to public attention last year during an investigation into misconduct within the West Virginia State Police. Governor Jim Justice described the footage as “very concerning.” Initially, Freedom of Information Act requests for the video were denied due to the ongoing investigation.
Following a recent settlement of $1 million with the State Police over Exlineβs death, Atkinson has made the footage available. The video was provided as evidence during the lawsuit.
The footage begins with a trooper responding to a report of a man, later identified as Exline, walking alongside the interstate and appearing intoxicated. Upon arrival, the trooper immediately confronts Exline, who insists he has done nothing wrong. As Exline walks back onto the interstate, the trooper follows, deploys a Taser, and calls for backup. The situation escalates as the trooper restrains Exline on the ground.
Atkinson criticized the trooperβs response, noting that the officer did not seek to understand the situation before resorting to force. The arrival of two additional troopers exacerbated the situation, leading to a violent confrontation with Exline, who is heard pleading that he cannot breathe and feels he is being killed.
The struggle ceases when a trooper announces that Exline has been secured, but he soon becomes unresponsive. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and additional officers arrive, performing CPR and administering Naloxone. Despite their efforts, Exline is pronounced dead at Berkeley Medical Center.
An autopsy later revealed that Exline died from blunt force trauma to the head and had no drugs or alcohol in his system. The initial responding trooper claimed that Exline had tried to grab his gun and Taser, and described him as “acting crazy.” However, the three troopers involved in the incident have not faced criminal charges. Grant County Prosecutor John Ours, who was appointed as a special prosecutor, presented the case to a grand jury, which chose not to indict the officers on involuntary manslaughter charges.
In response to the lawsuit, the West Virginia State Police issued a statement affirming that all involved troopers were cleared by a Federal Department of Justice investigation and a state-appointed special prosecutor. Administrative reviews also found no wrongdoing by the officers. The State Police expressed regret over any loss of life during emergency responses.
Atkinson released the video to highlight issues in how officers approach individuals with mental health conditions. He noted that Exline initially appeared calm and responded to the officerβs questions, raising concerns about how the situation was handled. Atkinson hopes the footage will encourage better training and awareness among law enforcement to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Eyewitness News filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the body camera footage and related investigation materials following the settlement. The State Police requested a 10-day extension to respond to this request, which is expected later this week.
Matt Pinner is a dedicated journalist for WVPrepBB.com, specializing in USA and crime news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for uncovering the truth, Matt brings timely and insightful reporting to his readers. His work on WVPrepBB.com keeps the community informed and engaged with the latest developments in national news and criminal justice.
