People, Locations, Episodes

Tue, 06.02.1981

Black Long Beach State University Student Killed by the Police

On this date in 1981, Ron Settles was murdered in police custody. Settles was a Black student-athlete (football) at Long Beach State University in California.

The incident began when he was pulled over for speeding by the Signal Hills Police Department (SHPD) in Long Beach, CA. He was arrested after a scuffle with SHPD white officers. That night, he was hanged in a jail cell at the SHPD station. Police officials maintained Settles committed suicide, and no criminal charges were filed. His parents accused officers of killing their son and hanging him in a cell to cover up his murder.

In a subsequent coroner's inquest, attorney Johnny Cochran demonstrated the chokehold, resulting in a jury's finding that Settles had died "at the hands of another." Moreover, the decision was reversed in court following the testimony of an expert (Dr. Baden), who determined there was no evidence that Settles had died from hanging but was most likely killed by a chokehold.  The case was settled in 1983, and though the family was awarded 1 million dollars, no officer was ever brought to trial.