Marquez Parker, 44, was arrested on Thursday morning, in connection with the alleged abduction of his girlfriend at gunpoint in Washington D.C. last July. However, just over three hours later, Parker was found unconscious and not breathing in his cell at the Metropolitan Police Department‘s Second District police station. Despite the efforts of the officers and emergency medical personnel, Parker was pronounced dead at the scene.
Parker was accused of forcing his girlfriend into a vehicle against her will outside their northwest D.C. residence. The incident was reported to the police by the victim’s family and friends after a live Instagram video showed Parker pointing a gun at her. The victim was later found safe according to The Washing Post and Parker was charged with armed kidnappings involving a gun.
The Metropolitan Police Department’s internal affairs bureau is currently investigating Parker’s death. According to MPD‘s standard operating procedures, searches for contraband and weapons are a routine occurrence in holding facilities, while more extensive searches require approval from a watch commander. The cause of Parker’s death is yet to be determined.
The sudden death of Marquez Parker just hours after his arrest raises serious questions about the conditions in police custody and the responsibility of law enforcement officers to ensure the safety and well-being of people who are on their watch. The department’s internal affairs bureau is investigating the death of Parker, and the results will hopefully shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death.
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