‘Accidental asphyxia’ in Northland Mall death

[caption id="attachment_10844" align="alignleft" width="180"] MacKenzie Cochran
COURTESY PHOTO[/caption] MacKenzie Cochran died Jan. 28 in the custody of Northland Mall security guards. A mobile video showed three mall cops holding down a hand-cuffed Cochran, pressing his chest against the floor — one has his knee in Cochran’s back — after pepper spraying him. Cochran can be heard saying, “I can’t breathe.” One of the guards responds, “If you can talk, you can breathe.” According to the Oakland County Media Examiners office, Cochran died of accidental compression and asphyxia. [caption id="attachment_10845" align="alignright" width="300"] Police on top of MacKenzie Cochran at Northland Mall
COURTESY PHOTO[/caption] In February, state legislators called for new legislation that would necessitate training for security guards.  To add pressure to the back of a person after pepper spray is fatal and proper training could have prevented the death. No arrests have been made. Cochran was 24 years old. http://michigancitizen.com/train-security-guards/