Louisiana State Police investigating May 2022 in-custody death of Alexandria woman
Louisiana State Police have an open investigation into the May 2022 death of an Alexandria woman after a pathologist ruled it a homicide.
A federal lawsuit claims Alexandria Police Department officers are responsible for the death of Rose Marie Taylor, who was found unresponsive in her jail cell on May 19, 2022. She died at Rapides Regional Medical Center on May 30, 2022, after her mother, Rosa Lee Taylor, signed a do-not-resuscitate order.
Dr. Christopher Tape, a forensic pathologist who has been accepted as an expert witness for multiple Rapides Parish murder trials, ruled Taylor's cause of death was "complications due to blunt force injuries, with contributions of hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and obesity."
He found the manner of death to be homicide.
No other details about the State Police investigation were available Friday, according to a spokesperson, but the attorney representing Taylor's mother, Jermaine Harris, did release a statement.
"We are pleased to hear that Louisiana State Police is now investigating the death of Rose Marie Taylor," it reads. "We expect a full investigation into this matter and for all those found responsible to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
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The city asked for and was granted extra time — until July 20 — to respond to it.
Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood also was named as a defendant, and his response was filed on June 21 by attorney, H. Bradford Calvit. It denies most of the claims made by Taylor's mother, but does admit a deputy told officers Taylor needed to be treated for injuries to her left wrist.
Wood's answer, through its 11 defenses listed, contends "the sole and proximate cause of the incident and injuries" to Taylor were her own fault because she didn't comply with the officers' verbal commands. He is asking the court to rule that he's entitled to qualified immunity.
In addition to the city, three Alexandria officers, Matthew Frost, Brian Frost and Alexander Helminger, are named as defendants.
According to the lawsuit, Taylor was visiting her girlfriend in the parking lot of the Seigel Select motel on MacArthur Drive on May 17, 2022, when Matthew Frost and Brian Frost blocked her vehicle. It alleges Taylor wasn't given a reason why officers detained her but does state drugs were found later in one of her pockets.
She was arrested.
Taylor was twice slammed chest first onto the hood of a patrol car, it contends. She also sustained a left wrist injury and told officers she wanted medical treatment for it.
After a deputy at the jail said Taylor needed to see a doctor, Taylor asked for someone other than Matthew Frost to take her to Rapides Regional. Helminger was summoned to drive her, but the lawsuit alleges he and Frost told medical personnel Taylor was refusing treatment.
Body camera footage from the officers does exist, according to the lawsuit, but Harris previously said a decision has not been made on whether it would be released.
No hearings have been scheduled in the lawsuit yet.
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Attorney for Rose Taylor's mom says 'pleased' death being investigated
