ORLANDO, Fla. — Documents have surfaced suggesting that accused cop killer Markeith Loyd adhered to police commands on the night of his arrest, contradicting what Orlando Police have said.
- Documents contradict Orlando Police account of Loyd arrest
- Chief John Mina said Markeith Loyd didn't comply with commands
- Documents from deputy say 'suspect complied with every command'
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Loyd is facing charges in the murders of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, in December 2016 and Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton a few weeks later during a confrontation at an Orange County Walmart.
He was arrested Jan. 17, 2017 after a manhunt that lasted more than a week.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said Loyd was not cooperative and a potential threat to his officers on the night of his arrest, which justified use of violence against him.
Loyd later lost vision in one eye.
The documents that have recently surfaced are from an Orange County Sheriff's deputy who recalled the arrest.
"The officer giving commands continued to tell him (Loyd) to crawl towards them, which he did, and one said, 'Don't look at me, look away,' and the suspect complied with every command," wrote the deputy, who is assigned to the U.S. Marshals' fugitive division.
"The suspect continued to crawl, slowly, however held his hands out the entire time, in an obvious manner that he was not holding any items."
Due to the conflicting views on the incident, Mina asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to step in. Orlando Police will also conduct an internal investigation.
They say all of those findings will be made public when the investigations are complete.