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Celebrity Justice
Did Jailers Contribute to Sean Levert's Death?

Posted Apr 1st 2008 1:55PM by TMZ Staff

Sean LevertTMZ has learned that singer Sean Levert was physically restrained by jail guards right before he died.

Staff at the Cuyahoga County Jail tell us Levert was "out of control" and "hallucinating," forcing them to place him in a restraining chair, because he was a danger to himself. The jail's warden Kevin McDonough says Levert was cooperative and "went willingly" when jail staff bound his wrists and shackled his feet.

The Cuyahoga County Coroner tells us Levert's body showed no signs of physical trauma, nor do they suspect foul play. They are currently awaiting toxicology results -- those will take four to six weeks to come back.

Sean reportedly suffered from high blood pressure. In a statement issued yesterday, the Levert family says "There is no song that can capture the loss that we have in our hearts." The family is reportedly asking the FBI to investigate what happened.

Tags: sean levert, SeanLevert

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16. There is a phenomen known as Sudden In Custody Death. It doesn't mean that the jailers had to use undue restraint. It can happen to a healthy young person. When you add "high blood pressure" and possibly unknown drugs to that mixture...well, don't judge the jailers until all the evidence is in.

Posted at 1:40PM on Apr 1st 2008 by She Who Wonders

17. This is sad - on a number of levels - for his family, for his friends, for his kids... his fans. Sean had a number of physical problems, apparently, and wasn't in the best of health. I don't believe that there was any wrong-doing that contributed to his death nor do I think that his race had anything to do with it (and I'm a BW). It's just unfortunate for his family to have yet another death to contend with just after the year anniversary of their other son's death. I am sorry that he has died so young, but I do not feel sorry for how he landed himself in jail. He had enough money to feed his drug habit, but not enough to pay the child support for his children that was court-ordered. Since he had not been making CDs since his brother's death, and therefore money not coming in as it was, he should have renegotiated (rather than avoided) the fees. Guess it's true - live fast, die young.

Posted at 1:30PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Old School Fan

18. This is sad - on a number of levels - for his family, for his friends, for his kids... his fans. Sean had a number of physical problems, apparently, and wasn't in the best of health. I don't believe that there was any wrong-doing that contributed to his death nor do I think that his race had anything to do with it (and I'm a BW). It's just unfortunate for his family to have yet another death to contend with just after the year anniversary of their other son's death. I am sorry that he has died so young, but I do not feel sorry for how he landed himself in jail. He had enough money to feed his drug habit, but not enough to pay the child support for his children that was court-ordered. Since he had not been making CDs since his brother's death, and therefore money not coming in as it was, he should have renegotiated (rather than avoided) the fees. Guess it's true - live fast, die young.

Posted at 1:30PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Old School Fan

19. They will abuse you and they seem to know where the cameras are placed, so they can get physical to their heart's content. Look at the orange county system. They are all getting indicted for corruption and police brutality.

Posted at 1:32PM on Apr 1st 2008 by hollywood lori

20. Life is tough... especially in jail.

Posted at 1:34PM on Apr 1st 2008 by BlueJayFlys

21. Who the hell is this porker?

Posted at 1:46PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Anon

22. what do they guards mean, 'he went willingly?'

Posted at 1:53PM on Apr 1st 2008 by poison apple

23. if he was a danger to himself than how could he had willingly let them restrain him to a chair??? and guys enough with the black comments plz, for all you know it probably was black jail staffers that did it. so stop bringing up al sharpton and jesse jackson everytime a black person is in trouble, they're not OUR representatives. and why the hell did they use this 1980's jery-curl pic anyway, i know if yall could get pics of people picking their noses you could get an up-to-date pic of this late singer. R.I.P SEAN

Posted at 1:56PM on Apr 1st 2008 by southerngyrl

24. TMZ......................IT MUST BE SLOWWWW....................NOTHING EXCITING ON HERE .................

Posted at 2:02PM on Apr 1st 2008 by TMZ......MUST BE SLOW ....NO EXCITEMENT ON HERE.......

25. damn bob, just come out and say that you hate black people. matter of fact get from behind the computer go to the nearest black neighborhood and scream it out!

Posted at 2:08PM on Apr 1st 2008 by southerngyrl

26. The guards were involved and kill through their ignorance and arrogance, armed assassins. Too sad to have another black man murdered in jail.

Posted at 3:02AM on Apr 2nd 2008 by jackson obama

27. Why are you people talking like this man doesn't have a family, famous or not! Granted he is the son of Eddie Levert the lead singer of the famous group The Ojays and the brother of the late great Gerald Levert who formed the group Levert (which Sean was a member), Which had several number one hits back in the 90's on the chart records.

This is a tragedy! Regardless of the events that may have taken place in the county jail people's lives have been affected. The Levert family have to again turn around and bury yet another son, brother, uncle, father and friend who has passed on to early in his life. Why can't the media give the family some respect and let them lay there love one to rest in peace.

If you can't find anything positive to say then I would suggest not saying anything at all; that would include media and the rest of the world!

Posted at 2:17PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Levert Fan

28. Bob is just plain old ignorant!

Posted at 2:19PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Levert Fan

29. Another cop cover up. Most police in this country are out of control.

Posted at 2:27PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Dale

30. Even if the cops did contribute to his death, nothing will happen to them. Cops violate laws everyday, and will never tell on each other because of the "Blue Shield od Silence. Sorry, but more cops are dirty than people think.

Posted at 2:22PM on Apr 1st 2008 by mike1

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