Hanging ruling questions

Tallahassee: Florida civil rights lawyer Ben Crump is calling for an investigation after Florida police ruled the death of a Black man found hanging from tree as a suicide.

The family of the man also wanted more information, although the police department has said it had ‘‘exhausted all leads’’ in the case and had found no evidence of foul play.

Nevan Baker (22) was found just after 3.30am on October 5 after police were called to a park by a person who reported seeing a man hanging from a tree.

Three officers at the scene grabbed Baker ‘‘by the lower half’’ and cut a white rope to get Baker on the ground at which point they were not able to find a pulse.

Police and the medical examiner’s office had ruled Baker’s death a suicide. Crump yesterday tweeted that Baker’s ‘‘hands were tied, teeth missing and face bruised’’. — TCA