OSBI Investigating Death Of Man While In Custody At Clinton Police Department

Clinton police said a man died while in custody at the Clinton City Jail.

Butch Herndon, 37, died after being taken into custody by officers on August 31.

Just after noon, Clinton police said they received multiple calls about a man who was “acting strange” and was trying to enter occupied vehicles in the parking lot of a convenience store located at 10th and Modelle.

Officers located Herndon in the 1200 block of Modelle as he was allegedly attempting to enter a locked car in a driveway.

Police said Herndon appeared to be intoxicated and was arrested without incident.

Once in a patrol car, police said Herndon became irate and began to try kicking out the windows vehicle.

That is when officers said Herndon was then restrained. It’s unclear where he was restrained and how.

Once taken to the jail, police said Herndon was placed on 15-minute checks.

Shortly after, police said Herndon was found unresponsive and officers immediately began to render aid.

Herndon was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Herndon’s brother, Leland Howling Buffalo, told News 9 he believes his brother was beat by police.

“He is just bruised from head to toe. You could see bruises on his face at the funeral and it was just terrible,” Buffalo said. “I didn’t want to remember him that way, but I had to look at my baby brother for one last time.”

OSBI is investigating Herndon’s death.

The state medical examiner’s officer listed Herndon’s death as pending.

“I’m going to do what I can for my brother to get justice,” Buffalo said. “I don’t know how it’s going to happen; I don’t know where or when, but it is going to happen one way or another.”

A rally and march, organized by the American Indian Movement, was held Friday afternoon in Clinton to help raise awareness about Herndon and other’s encounters with police.