WS Chronicle

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BY TEVIN STINSON 

THE CHRONICLE 

After three months of waiting, during a press conference held at the Hall of Justice earlier this week the Forsyth County District Attorney’s office released the body camera footage of the incident involving Travis Nevelle Page, a Winston-Salem man who died in police custody following a brief struggle.

According to a police report, Corporal Robert Fenimore, Officer Christopher Doub, Officer Austin Conrad, and Officer Jabob Tuttle responded to a reported discharge of a firearm at 4404 Old Rural Hall Road. Upon –arrival officers attempted to detain Page, who matched the description

of the reported gunman. Page became unresponsive after one of the officers used pepper spray in order to put Page in handcuffs In the footage released to the public, Page attempts to elude officers on foot before he trips and falls. The remaining footage shows the three officers attempting to arrest Page. The body camera tape shown during the news conference does not show when the pepper spray was used.

Medical Examiner Dr. Anna McDonald concluded that the bruises found on Page were non- lethal. The bruises included one on the head, three on his shoulders and small bruises on his hips. Although the cause of death is still unknown, McDonald noted that Page was a man who suffered from multiple health issues, including obesity and an enlarged heart.

McDonald noted Page’s heart weighed 650 grams much larger than a normal healthy hart. It is believed that health issues and the act of the physical restraint may have been the cause.

Since the incident occurred last December, a number of community organizations have urged District Attorney Jim O’Neil to release the body camera footage. President of the Ministers’ Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity (MCWSV) Bishop Todd Fulton attempted multiple times to meet with O’Neil to ask that the footage  be released.

During a recent MCWSV meeting, Fulton thanked the district attorney’s office for doing their job. Fulton also addressed the lack of communication and the length of time it took for the footage to be released

“We want to thank the district attorney’s office for doing their job, but we also want to address the issues,” he continued. “Why it is so difficult for you to do the job that taxpayers are paying you to do.”

“It should not have been this hard to have the footage released. This man died in your custody and we deserve to know what happened.”

According to Fulton and other members of the conference, they will hold an official news conference later this month to address the footage.