The family of Stanley Wilson Jr., the former Detroit Lions defensive back who died at a Los Angeles mental hospital on Feb. 1, claims he was beaten by police prior to his death at age 40.
TMZ reports Wilson Jr.’s attorney John Carpenter says his client was a victim of excessive force at the hands of L.A. law enforcement, with cops stomping and beating the one-time NFL player, who played three seasons for the Lions.
Carpenter said photos obtained by law enforcement show a “stark contrast to what we’ve been hearing.” He added that Wilson Jr. appeared to be handcuffed at the time of the beatings, and that he has yet to receive Wilson Jr.’s autopsy results.
Stanley Wilson Jr. had been in police custody since August 2022, when he was arrested for allegedly breaking into a Hollywood Hills home. Authorities say he was apprehended after vandalizing the property and taking a bath in an outƒdoor fountain. The 40-year-old was reportedly declared incompetent to stand trial and transferred to the Metropolitan State Hospital in Los Angeles on Feb. 1.
Three lawsuits have since been filed against Los Angeles County—one by Wilson Jr.’s mother, one on behalf of his father, and one on behalf of his estate, all of which are asking for damages in excess of $45 million.
“The County has grossly misrepresented the cause and circumstances of Stanley Wilson Jr.’s death,” Carpenter said.
