Mother wants answers after son dies in police custody in Rock Hill

ROCK HILL, S.C. — The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating after a suspect died in police custody in Rock Hill.

Rock Hill police said officers responded to a domestic violence incident at an apartment in Cowan Farms off Anderson Road just before 2:30 p.m. Saturday. After an initial investigation, officers made an arrest and took the suspect to the Rock Hill Police Department Jail.

When they got there, the suspect became unresponsive. EMS crews took the suspect to the hospital, where he later died.

The mother of the man who died, 36-year-old Cedarian Crow, said she is heartbroken and wants to know what happened to her son.

Crow’s family said he was healthy.

His mother said she’s devastated because investigators won’t let her see his body, which was taken to Charleston for an autopsy.

"How can, me being the mother, confirm that he doesn't have any bruises, that he doesn't have any scars? Because the reason this is going on is the reason my boy's not here right now,” Pamela Crowe said.

Crow was a father of two.

“I don’t want to pick him up and take him,” Pamela Crowe said. “I just want to look at my boy. That’s all I want to do.”

Officials said the Rock Hill Police Department is conducting an internal investigation while SLED will be working on an independent investigation.

Investigators said the cause of death is pending the autopsy and toxicology results.

Civil rights activist John Barnett spoke for the family Thursday and urged investigators to be transparent and communicate with the family.

The coroner's office said tests are still pending, and it could be weeks until a cause of death is known.

For the family, it's already been too long.

The family hasn’t been able to plan Cedarian Crow’s funeral, and they plan to talk to a Charlotte law firm Friday in hopes to get more information.

No other information has been released.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for more information.

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