Autopsy reveals minor injuries to Kansas teenager who died after being immobilized in juvenile facility

A preliminary autopsy report for the 17-year-old foster child who died Sunday two days after prison staff immobilized him in a Kansas juvenile facility revealed only minor injuries, said Thursday officials.

The young man, Cedric “CJ” Lofton, of Wichita, had “a few scratches and a bruise” after a fight with correctional workers at the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center on Friday, Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said at the meeting. ‘a press conference with the County of Sedgwick. District Attorney Marc Bennett. “This is an absolutely tragic matter. I want to assure the public that we will fully investigate this matter.… We will spare no effort to try to find out exactly what happened to Mr. Lofton.”

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, or KBI, is investigating and will report its findings to Bennett.

The cause and mode of death have not been determined and a toxicology report is pending, Bennett said.

“There haven’t been any life-threatening injuries,” Bennett said, “that’s why toxicology is going to be… so important.”

Easter said Wichita police were called to Lofton’s home around 1 a.m. Friday because he was in crisis and “felt people wanted to kill him.” Her foster parent wanted a mental health assessment, Easter said.

The KBI said Lofton was involved in a fight with officers and was arrested on four counts of assault and battery against a law enforcement officer.

He was handcuffed and placed in a restraint envelope, a device used to prevent people from injuring themselves or others, officials said.

Neither her foster parent nor relatives could be reached for comment on Thursday.

Lofton was black. Black, white and Hispanic staff were at the juvenile center, said Lt. Benjamin Blick, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.

Authorities released more details of the timeline following Lofton’s arrest on Thursday. He was transported to the juvenile center by Wichita police shortly after 2:30 a.m., and about three hours later he became unconscious after fighting with workers at the center, officials said Thursday.

Workers at the juvenile facility began CPR at 5:18 a.m., Easter said. A few minutes later, emergency medical personnel arrived and continued with CPR.

“At this point, they’re able to revive his heart,” Easter said.

Lofton died in a hospital shortly before 2 a.m. on Sunday, officials said.

Officials said Lofton attacked a juvenile facility worker while being escorted to his cell from the toilet.

“Several prison staff went through a long physical struggle to get him into the holding cell and handcuff him,” KBI said.

Bennett declined to disclose more details about the fight.

KBI spokesperson Melissa Underwood said in an email Wednesday that five county corrections workers “were potentially involved” in her duress. They had not been placed on administrative leave, she said on Wednesday.

Authorities also said Thursday that there was a video of Lofton’s meetings with Wichita police and corrections workers at the youth facility. Easter said state law dictates that his office may allow certain parties to view the body camera and dashboard video, including the subject of the video, certain family members or a lawyer, but not the public.

Bennett cited state law banning pre-trial advertising when discussing the video. He said he expects the KBI to present a preliminary report at the end of next week. The report will help him determine whether he should file a complaint, decide that none is warranted or continue the investigation, he said.