The City of Irondale and its police department have rejected claims of excessive force in the August 2024 death of Phillip Reeder, 52, directly contradicting the family’s account and a coroner’s report that ruled the death a homicide.
The dispute centers on body camera footage that remains unreleased to the public, leaving critical questions about what actually happened during Reeder’s final moments.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge
In a joint statement released Monday, Irondale officials maintained that officers employed no excessive force during the events leading to Reeder’s death.
This announcement came hours after attorneys for Reeder’s family shared a Jefferson County coroner’s report stating the death was a homicide caused by a “combination of his heart disease, cocaine, injuries, and exertion from the altercation” with police.
The family’s attorneys have drawn parallels to George Floyd’s 2020 death, alleging that an officer kneeled on Reeder’s neck during the arrest. However, city officials strongly dispute this claim, stating, “No knee was placed in the back of his neck, and no excessive force was used.”
The August 6, 2024 Incident
Both sides agree on certain basic facts: Police were dispatched to a local highway just after 5 a.m. on August 6, 2024, following multiple 911 calls about a man behaving erratically and running into traffic. What happened next remains hotly contested.
According to the city’s statement:
- Reeder continued running on the road and shouting when officers approached.
- He ignored “multiple commands to comply.”
- Officers shocked him with a Taser because he “posed a danger to himself and others.”
- After being handcuffed, “Mr. Reeder continued to struggle and resist for almost two minutes.”
- Officers used their arms to restrain him.
The city maintains this response was appropriate given the circumstances and that officers acted within department protocols to protect both Reeder and the public.
The Family’s Version
Sandra Lee Reeder painted a dramatically different picture at a Monday news conference. After waiting nearly a year for information, she and her attorney finally viewed body camera footage on July 18, 2025.
According to her account:
- There was “no attempt from the Irondale police officers to talk Phillip down.”
- Her husband was unarmed and suffering from a mental health crisis.
- An officer put a knee on Reeder’s neck for approximately three minutes after the Taser deployment.
- Reeder could be heard saying “I can’t breathe” three times while restrained.
These disturbing allegations, if proven true, would represent a catastrophic failure to properly handle a mental health crisis and echo the restraint techniques that have led to deaths in other high-profile cases.
Medical vs. Criminal Definitions
The coroner’s ruling on the homicide has added complexity to the case. In autopsies, “homicide” carries a medical definition meaning death at the hands of another person, but does not necessarily imply criminal guilt.
The city’s statement emphasized that Reeder had a history of “hypertensive heart disease.” It highlighted the autopsy’s finding that “the blunt force injuries alone would not account for Mr. Reeder’s death.”
Investigation Results
The city’s statement noted that:
- The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency found no wrongdoing.
- The Jefferson County District Attorney didn’t see evidence “sufficient for criminal charges” against the officers involved.
However, these findings come without public access to the crucial body camera footage.
The Body Camera Footage Barrier
Central to this dispute is video evidence that remains hidden from public view. Alabama law allows agencies to withhold recordings if disclosure would affect an active investigation, but doesn’t require them to provide reasons for denial.
Family attorney Roderick Van Daniel has urged authorities to release the footage publicly.
This lack of transparency has left the community unable to independently assess what happened, forcing them to choose between two starkly different narratives about Reeder’s final moments.
Mental Health Crisis Response
The incident raises important questions about how law enforcement responds to mental health crises.
Sandra Lee Reeder’s assertion that her husband was experiencing a mental health episode when police arrived highlights ongoing debates about whether armed officers are the appropriate first responders to such situations.
Legal Implications
From a civil rights and wrongful death perspective, several issues emerge:
- Use of Force Standards: The dispute over whether an officer kneeled on Reeder’s neck is crucial. Such restraint techniques have come under intense scrutiny following high-profile deaths.
- Transparency Requirements: The withholding of body camera footage demonstrates how state laws can create barriers to accountability, even when families seek answers about their loved ones’ deaths.
- Mental Health Considerations: The response to individuals in crisis remains a critical area of police reform discussions nationwide.
The complex interplay of pre-existing conditions, substances, and police actions in determining the cause of death often becomes central to both criminal and civil proceedings.
Moving Forward
As this case continues to develop, the unreleased body camera footage remains the key piece of evidence that could clarify what actually happened.
The stark disagreement between official statements and family accounts underscores the importance of transparency in police-involved deaths.
For the Reeder family, the search for truth and accountability continues nearly a year after Phillip’s death.
For the community, this case represents another flashpoint in ongoing discussions about police practices, transparency, and the treatment of individuals experiencing mental health crises.
Let Justice Roll, With Baxley Maniscalco
When facing the devastating loss of a loved one in a police encounter, families need experienced attorneys who understand both the legal complexities and emotional toll of these cases.
Our experienced attorneys here at Baxley Maniscalco have extensive experience handling cases involving excessive force, wrongful death, and disputes over official accounts of police incidents.
Our team knows how to navigate Alabama’s laws regarding police recordings and transparency, fight for access to crucial evidence, and build strong cases even when official investigations claim no wrongdoing.
We understand that medical examiner findings, witness accounts, and video evidence often tell different stories from official reports, and we work tirelessly to uncover the truth.
If your family has lost someone in a police encounter or you’ve been injured by excessive force, don’t face powerful institutions alone.
Contact Baxley Maniscalco for a confidential consultation.
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