The deceased, Dennoriss Richardson, 39, was discovered by deputies in September in a remote area of Colbert County, far from his residence in Sheffield, a small city of about 10,000 located near the Tennessee River. While the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office classified Richardson’s death as a suicide, his wife, Leigh Richardson, disputes this claim, noting that her husband left no suicide note and had no ties to the location of his discovery.
Leigh Richardson expressed concern that her husband’s death might be connected to a lawsuit he had filed against the local police department earlier this year. Dennoriss Richardson, recognized for coaching youth sports, had alleged he was the victim of police brutality, denied necessary medical care, sprayed with tear gas, and subjected to Taser shocks while detained.
While she refrains from blaming any individual, Leigh states firmly that her husband would not have taken his own life. The skepticism surrounding Richardson’s death reflects a broader mistrust of law enforcement in Colbert County, especially in light of the history of racial violence in the region.
Sheriff Eric Balentine confirmed that the FBI accepted his request to look into the death, maintaining that his department had thoroughly conducted its own investigation. “We feel confident in our conclusions but believe the FBI’s involvement can provide the family with some reassurance,” Balentine stated.
An official from the Birmingham field office of the FBI acknowledged awareness of Richardson’s death and confirmed they are examining the allegations of criminal misconduct regarding the law enforcement response.
Tori Bailey, head of the local NAACP chapter and the only Black member of the Colbert County commission, noted that the community’s response to Richardson’s death was heavily influenced by the troubling legacy of lynchings in the area. The Equal Justice Initiative reports that between 1877 and 1943, Alabama witnessed 359 documented lynchings, with 11 occurring in Colbert County alone.
Bailey pointed out that while the accusations may be unfounded, local residents naturally react strongly to the circumstances of a Black man being found hanging and demand a comprehensive investigation. In her long tenure as NAACP president, she has tracked numerous instances of excessive force employed by law enforcement.
“There has long been a disconnect between communities of color and the police. Sadly, many of us do not trust law enforcement to fulfill their role of serving and protecting,” Bailey remarked.
Marvin Long, a lifelong resident of Colbert County and a friend of the Richardson family, shares this distrust. He characterized Richardson’s death as amplifying his own anxieties about potential police retaliation. “To this day, I dread seeing a police car. I’m frightened now more than ever,” he admitted.
Long himself has engaged in legal action against the Sheffield Police Department after an incident in 2021, where he alleged police officers assaulted him without provocation. He joined a group of Black and Latino men represented by civil rights attorney Roderick Van Daniel, who have also pursued lawsuits against local law enforcement.
According to Van Daniel, there exists a pervasive fear among citizens about police repercussions. In one significant case against the department, an off-duty officer was filmed attacking a Black man at a local liquor store. That officer later faced criminal charges and was dismissed from the police force.
In another incident, a chiropractor claimed he was subjected to excessive Taser use while handcuffed by police after seeking assistance in finding his wife’s lost phone. Images presented in the lawsuit display significant injuries allegedly inflicted by the officers.
The Sheffield Police Department has not provided any statements in response to requests for comment on these matters, and the attorneys representing the implicated officers have also remained silent.
Sheriff Balentine, who took office in 2023, refrained from addressing specific allegations but asserted his belief that most residents still have confidence in law enforcement. “If excessive behavior is established, I trust accountability will follow,” he commented, expressing hope that the FBI investigation would alleviate public apprehensions.
Leigh Richardson has shared a long history with her husband, recalling how he exhibited fear towards police even as a teenager. Following the lawsuit, she noted her husband’s apprehension led him to avoid confrontations with law enforcement.
Sheffield Mayor Steve Stanley mentioned that Richardson had visited his office to voice accusations of police profiling, assuring him that any formal complaints would be investigated.
Despite a lengthy history with local law enforcement, court records show many of Dennoriss Richardson’s arrests did not culminate in convictions, apart from a drug possession case in 2006.
Richardson had been charged with meth trafficking on the same week he filed his police department complaint, and he remained out on bond when he died.
Though expressing a firm commitment to countering officer misconduct, Mayor Stanley stated his confidence in the police department’s integrity. He emphasized the necessity for respectful treatment of all individuals.
Even with the pending investigation, uncertainty lingers within the community. In early October, supporters gathered at Trinity Memorial Funeral Home to honor Richardson. The service was filled with calls for justice and transparency regarding his death.
During the memorial, Van Daniel declared Richardson’s commitment to accountability, underscoring the community’s demand for answers. “His family and the Sheffield community deserve the truth,” he insisted.
This article references issues of suicide, and if you or someone you know is struggling, please consider reaching out to the national crisis line by calling or texting 988.