Local sheriff asks FBI to investigate death of black man found hanged in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The FBI is investigating the death of a Black man in Alabama who was found hanged in an abandoned home at the request of a local sheriff amid concerns among community members who accuse local law enforcement of a history of unchecked misconduct.

Sheriff’s deputies found Dennoris Richardson, 39, in September in rural Colbert County, a few miles from his home in Sheffield, a city of about 10,000 near the Tennessee River.

The Colbert County Sheriff’s Office ruled Richardson’s death a suicide. But Richardson’s wife, Lee Richardson, said that was not true, explaining that her husband did not leave a note and had nothing to do with the house where he was found.

Instead, the 40-year-old woman fears her husband’s death was related to a lawsuit he filed against the local police department in February. Dennoris Richardson, who coached children in baseball and football, alleged that he was attacked in prison, denied medical treatment, sprayed with tear gas and beaten with a stun gun.

Leigh Richardson said she doesn’t blame a specific person, but is adamant her husband did not take his own life.

She is not alone in her belief. Widespread skepticism over Richardson’s death underscores a deep-rooted distrust of local law enforcement in Colbert County. In a region where the hanging is tied to a long history of state-sanctioned lynchings of black people, county residents say local law enforcement is using excessive force.

Sheriff Eric Ballentine, who confirmed the FBI had accepted his request for an investigation, said his department had “exhausted all resources” in the investigation.

“We are confident in our findings, but feel that by doing this we can give the family more peace of mind,” Ballentine said.

A spokesman for the Birmingham FBI field office confirmed that the FBI is aware of the death of Dennoris Richardson and is looking into criminal mischief charges.

Tori Bailey, president of the local NAACP chapter and the only black member of the six-member county commission in Colbert County, said the community’s reaction to Richardson’s death was driven in part by the region’s harrowing history with lynchings.

Between 1877 and 1943, there were 359 reported lynchings in Alabama, according to the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to criminal justice reform. There were 11 in Colbert County alone.

Bailey said that while the allegations may have nothing to do with each other, it makes sense that the community would have a “visceral” reaction to the hanging of a black man and want to conduct a more thorough investigation. She said that while some officers try to do the right thing, during her 12 years as NAACP president, she documented and investigated many cases of excessive force in the county.

“There has long been sort of a disconnect between communities of color and law enforcement. Unfortunately, many of us don’t believe that law enforcement is actually there to serve and protect,” Bailey said.

Marvin Long, a 57-year-old black man and lifelong Colbert County resident, knew Dennoris Richardson’s family well while growing up. He shares skepticism about the decision to commit suicide and says Richardson’s death heightened his fear of retribution.

“To this day, I hate seeing a police car,” Long said. “I’m more afraid now than ever.”

Last year, Long sued the Sheffield Police Department. After he inquired about an unrelated arrest that occurred near his property in 2021, body camera footage shows officers following Long to his home, dragging him down his porch steps and setting a police K9 on him as he screams for help. . Long was unarmed, according to the complaint.

Richardson and Long are among five blacks and Latinos, represented by civil rights attorney Roderick Van Daniel, who have filed lawsuits against the department in recent years.

“Citizens live in fear of retribution,” Van Daniel said.

In one case, an off-duty Sheffield police officer was caught on surveillance footage pointing a gun at a black man in a liquor store. The officer was later found guilty of assault, menacing and reckless endangerment. He was fired from the department.

In a separate lawsuit, the 57-year-old chiropractor claims he was tased 18 times while handcuffed after he asked an officer to help him find his wife’s iPhone. Photos included in the suit show several large burn marks believed to have been caused by the attack.

The Sheffield Police Department did not respond to multiple phone calls and emails seeking comment. Lawyers for the officers named in the pending lawsuits did not respond to emails.

Balentine, who has served as sheriff since 2023, declined to comment on specific cases. But he said that, given his nearly 30 years of experience in the area, he believes Colbert County residents generally trust law enforcement.

“If it is proven that it was excessive, then I am confident that there will be liability,” he said.

Still, Ballentine said he hopes the FBI investigation will help allay concerns.

“Transparency is always a good way to improve relationships with the community,” he said.

Lee Richardson has known her husband since she was 17 years old. She remembers Dennoriss, affectionately known as “Na-Na,” as a warm father to their five children. But she also said his fear of police is not new.

“He was scared at such a young age,” Richardson said.

Richardson said her husband was frequently stopped by police after filing the lawsuit. During those months, she said, he “tried to stay away.”

Sheffield Mayor Steve Stanley said Dennoris Richardson came to his office at least once to express concerns about his representation. Stanley said he assured Richardson that any officers reported through official channels would be investigated.

The Sheffield Police Department would not confirm whether or how often it stopped Richardson.

Court records show Dennoris Richardson has a long history of run-ins with local law enforcement, but most of the charges have not been proven in federal and state courts.

Dennis Richardson pleaded guilty to drug charges in 2006 and was sentenced to five years in prison. Court records show that in the more than 15 years since then, Richardson has been arrested by the Sheffield Police Department at least six more times on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to robbery and assault.

None of those charges, except the traffic violation for expired tags, resulted in a conviction, according to available court records.

The same week Richardson filed a lawsuit against the department, he was charged with trafficking methamphetamine. He was arrested at the house where the drugs were allegedly found. Richardson was out on bail at the time of his death.

Stanley said he strongly supports holding officers accountable for misconduct, but emphasized his enormous confidence in them.

“I have preached and believe that at least the majority of officers recognize that everyone deserves respect,” Stanley said.

However, uncertainty prevails in society as the investigation approaches.

In early October, Richardson’s friends and family filled the pews at the small Trinity Memorial Funeral Home to honor his life. Singing and preaching were accompanied by calls for justice.

Speaking from the lectern, Van Daniel, Richardson’s lawyer, said Richardson “believed in transparency and accountability. “He spoke out against police misconduct.”

As Van Daniel spoke, there was a steady chorus of “amen” from the crowd.

“His family and the Sheffield community deserve answers,” he said. “We deserve answers.”

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This article discusses the issue of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, you can reach the US National Suicide and Crisis Line by calling or texting 988.

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Riddle is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.