The video footage of the encounter between Leonard Cure and a deputy, which was released on Wednesday, has stirred controversy. Leonard Cure's lawyer, Benjamin Crump, argues that the video shows the deputy acting aggressively and failing to de-escalate the situation.
Michael Cure, one of Leonard's brothers, believes that Leonard was mostly compliant but may have had underlying mental issues, and the officer's actions triggered him. Another brother, Wallace Cure, firmly believes there was no justification for Leonard's death during a routine traffic stop, even if there was an altercation.
Crump suggests that the deputy's words about going to jail may have triggered Leonard's post-traumatic stress, given his prior wrongful conviction. The Camden County Sheriff's Office insists that the videos demonstrate transparency regarding the incident, including dash camera footage of the speeding truck and body camera footage revealing the confrontation and use of force. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is still looking into the case.
Leonard Cure was wrongly convicted in 2003 but exonerated in 2020, and he had received compensation for his wrongful incarceration.
He was on his way to his new home in Palmetto, Georgia, when he was shot, tragically ending his life. Seth Miller, the executive director of the Innocence Project of Florida, emphasizes that the incident could have been avoided with a less hostile approach from law enforcement.
