Loved ones mourn woman who died after falling out of Georgia deputy's patrol car
HANCOCK COUNTY, Ga. - A woman who died after falling out of a Georgia deputy's patrol car was laid to rest on Thursday.
Brianna Grier, 28, suffered significant injuries as she was being driven to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office on July 15 and died from those injuries at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta on July 21, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
The GBI released body camera footage in July that showed Grier on the ground moments after falling out of the patrol car. She died six days later.
An autopsy showed Grier had multiple skull fractures and severe brain swelling when she died.
The GBI did not explain why deputies were called to the home where they took Grier into custody, nor did it explain why Grier was arrested. Her family's attorney said Grier was arrested by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office during a mental health crisis.
The Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy at West Hunter Street Baptist Church prior to a march to the state capitol. He echoed Grier's relative's cries for justice.
"The issue is not Brianna's mind, the issue is their mind," Sharpton said, referring to deputies.
The Rev. Al Sharpton gives a eulogy during the funeral of Brianna Grier in Atlanta. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
GBI agents said the rear passenger-side door of the patrol car wasn't closed.
The GBI said deputies tried to put Grier in the patrol car. She was on the ground by the rear driver’s-side door refusing to get in the car and said she was going to harm herself, according to the GBI.
Family of woman who fell from patrol car and died demands answers
Brianna Grier, 28, suffered significant injuries July 15 and died July 21 at an Atlanta hospital. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said this week that the deputies who put Grier in the back of a patrol car to take her to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office failed to close the rear passenger-side door before driving away.
Deputies walked around and opened the rear passenger-side door and then returned to the rear driver’s side door. The two deputies put Grier in the back of the patrol car and closed the rear driver’s side door, investigators said. Her hands were handcuffed in front of her body and she was not wearing a seatbelt.
Body camera footage shows the deputies had no other contact with Grier from the time she was put in the car until she fell out of the moving car, the release says.
GBI agents conducted interviews, watched multiple body camera videos and tested the car. The investigation is ongoing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.