New questions on former ME’s ruling on police in-custody loss of life almost years in the past

The 11 News I team unveils new questions about the death of a man in Baltimore County police custody nearly 20 years ago. It is one of those cases that could now be considered as part of a review of autopsies carried out by former coroner Dr David Fowler, following Fowler’s controversial expert testimony in the George Floyd case. Chereka Rainey is the only child of Albert Covington III, the only parent, she recalls. “He was affectionately called ‘Al’,” said Rainey. “He was a single parent, so he raised me on his own.” In December 2001, Rainey received a call to go to Northwest Hospital. Her father had been taken there after meeting Baltimore County police officers. He didn’t survive. “They never told me what happened to him. They just told me that they responded to a call and that he passed away. But they never told me anything,” she said. Ronnie Moore remembers the night Covington came to the door in his Woodlawn neighborhood. “This whole ordeal lasted about three hours,” said Moore. “An unpredictable guy knocked on my door in the middle of the night and said he needed help.” A few minutes later, Covington broke into the house next door, Moore said. Nobody was home. The police were called. “And the next thing I know, he breaks through the front door and then he just walks all over the house and breaks windows,” said Moore. Moore estimates that up to six police officers responded to the call. A police report The I-Team received said Covington “… failed to follow orders to show his hands” and “… continued to fight fiercely. It took several officers to subdue him.” The report went on, “Once muffled. Mr. Covington went passive and appeared to be faint. The officers checked his pulse and found none.” No further details about the bondage were added. “And the ambulance came and they pronounced him dead in the hospital,” said Moore. The Chief Medical Examiner’s office issued an autopsy report of Covington’s death. The autopsy report showed several injuries. Bruises and bleeding on the scalp, neck and trunk. Multiple areas of bleeding were noted in the muscles of the chest and on both sides of the back. Cause of death according to autopsy: cocaine-induced agitated delirium during restraint. It was signed by three pathologists, including Fowler. Fowler’s work is now under scrutiny, according to his testimony in the defense of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was then charged with the murder of George Floyd. Fowler claimed Floyd died of a heart problem and disproved other experts who said Floyd died as a result of the compression on his neck. In the Covington case, coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht Fowler’s finding of cocaine induced excited delirium in question. The 11 News I team asked Wecht to review the report’s autopsy areas over an extended period of time. This is not just a little, as I say, skirmish, in which they wrestled and subjugated this man, “said Wecht. In Wecht’s opinion, Covington died because his position during the restraint prevented him from breathing.” I would Mark this case as compression, positional asphyxiation, and I would call it murder, “said Wecht.” At least very benign, the nature of the death as undetermined, to be followed up “through further investigation,” said Wecht. The manner of Covington’s death was decided as indefinite in the autopsy signed by Fowler. Rainey filed lawsuits in state and federal courts against Baltimore County, the police officers involved, and others in 2003 and 2004. Everyone was fired. Records show that the federal case was dismissed when the attorney handling the case failed to respond to a court order. An investigation into death in custody cases handled by Maryland’s medical examiner during Fowler’s tenure is about to reopen? A spokesman for the Baltimore County Police Department told the I-Team, “Until a full review of the autopsy results by Dr. David Fowler, due to the nature of these examinations, it is simply too early to give a definitive answer – the reopening of a case would initially depend on the cause and type of death determined by the medical officer. In addition, the contributions of the public prosecutor would have to be taken into account. “Rainey is still waiting for answers she never got. She answered the attorney general who organized the exam.” It was disheartening because my father was gentle. If he asked for help, he needed help. He wasn’t a violent person, “Rainey said.” I just want a degree. I just want to know what happened and I can pretty much accept anything. But if it was in the hands of the officers, please just admit it happened. But just not knowing is the hardest part, “even so many years later. I just need a degree.” Fowler is in private business now. He told the I-Team that he doesn’t remember and have no access to the Covington case File.

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. –

The 11 News I team unveils new questions about the death of a man in Baltimore County police custody nearly 20 years ago.

It is one of those cases that could now be considered as part of a review of the autopsies carried out by former coroner Dr. David Fowler of Maryland was signed.

This examination is based on Fowler’s controversial expert testimony in the George Floyd case.

Chereka Rainey is the only child of Albert Covington III, the only parent, she recalls.

“He was affectionately called ‘Al’,” said Rainey. “He was a single parent, so he raised me on his own.”

In December 2001, Rainey received a call to go to Northwest Hospital. Her father had been taken there after meeting Baltimore County police officers. He didn’t survive.

“They never told me what happened to him. They just told me that they responded to a call and that he passed away. But they never told me anything,” she said.

Ronnie Moore remembers the night Covington stepped out the door in his Woodlawn neighborhood.

“This whole ordeal lasted about three hours,” said Moore. “An unpredictable guy knocked on my door in the middle of the night and said he needed help.”

A few minutes later, Covington broke into the house next door, Moore said. Nobody was home. Police were called.

“And the next thing I know is he’ll break the front door and then just go all over the house and break windows,” said Moore.

Moore estimates that up to six police officers responded to the call.

A police report received by Team I stated that Covington “… failed to obey orders to show his hands” and “… continued to fight fiercely. It took several police officers to get him to subjugate.” The report went on, “Once muffled. Mr. Covington went passive and appeared to be faint. The officers checked his pulse and found none.” Further details on the reluctance were not included.

“And the ambulance came and they pronounced him dead in the hospital,” said Moore.

The Chief Medical Examiner’s office released an autopsy report of Covington’s death.

The autopsy report showed several injuries. Bruises and bleeding on the scalp, neck and trunk. Multiple areas of bleeding were noted in the chest muscles and on both sides of the back.

Cause of death according to autopsy: cocaine-induced excited delirium during restraint.

It was signed by three pathologists, including Fowler.

Fowler’s work is now under scrutiny, according to his testimony in defense of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin – then charged with the murder of George Floyd.

Fowler claimed Floyd died of a heart problem and disproved other experts who said Floyd died from the compression of his neck.

In the Covington case, forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht Fowler’s finding of cocaine induced aroused delirium in question.

The 11 News I team asked Wecht to review the autopsy of the report.

“To get this type of extensive bleeding into a person’s deep muscles, soft tissues, which shows that the victim has been exposed to heavy strain in those areas for an extended period of time. as I say, an argument, a skirmish in which they wrestle and subjugate this man, “said Wecht.

According to Wecht, Covington died because his positioning during restraint prevented him from breathing.

“I would write off this case as compression, positional suffocation, and I would call it murder,” said Wecht.

“At least benign, the nature of death as undetermined, to pursue further investigation,” said Wecht.

The manner of Covington’s death was decided as indefinite in the autopsy signed by Fowler.

Rainey filed lawsuits in state and federal courts against Baltimore County, the police officers involved, and others in 2003 and 2004. Everyone was fired. Records show that the federal case was dismissed when the attorney handling the case failed to respond to an injunction.

An investigation into death in custody cases being handled by Maryland’s medical examiner during Fowler’s tenure is imminent.

Could that result in Covington’s death resuming?

A Baltimore County Police Department spokesman told the I-Team, “Until a full review of Dr. David Fowler, due to the nature of these examinations, it is simply too early to give a definitive answer. A case would initially depend on the cause and type of death determined by the medical officer. In addition, the information from the public prosecutor’s office must be taken into account. “

Rainey is still waiting for answers she never received. She responded to the attorney general who organized the exam.

“It was disheartening because my dad was gentle. When he asked for help, he needed help. He wasn’t a violent person,” Rainey said. “I just want a degree. I just want to know what happened and I can pretty much accept anything. But if it was in the hands of the officers, please just admit it happened. But just not to be known the hardest “, even so many years later. I just need a degree. “

Fowler is in private business now. he told the I-Team that he did not remember the Covington case and had no access to that file.