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Family demands answers after woman dies in Harper Woods police custody

Posted at 10:21 PM, Jun 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-12 06:33:00-04

HARPER WOODS, Mich. (WXYZ) — A family wants answers after a loved one dies while in police custody.

Family members say something just doesn’t add up.

The family of Priscilla Slater says something happened to her inside a holding cell at Harper Woods police headquarters and now they want answers.

“I’m mad about it and I want justice for Priscilla, yes I do,” says aunt Jennifer Rand.

Family members outraged after 38-year-old Priscilla Slater died while in police custody at the Harper Woods Police Department.

“It sounds like it’s a coverup like they’re covering something up,” says Rand.

Slater was found unresponsive just after 12:30 Wednesday afternoon.

“They came to our house yesterday around 6:30 telling us that she was found dead in her cell,” says sister Laquita Gill.

Medics attempted to revive her. She was taken to St. John Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m.

Her body was taken to the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s office to determine a cause of death.

Family members say no one has told them anything about what happened.

“It’s very unusual and they’re not giving us a reason why they took her to jail,” they say.

Slater’s family says she was arrested Tuesday at the Parkcrest Inn, but police didn’t tell them why. The family says something isn’t right and things aren’t adding up.

“She died unnecessarily,” they say. “This does not feel good. When you care about a person, you raise them and out of nowhere they’re gone.”

Family and friends say they will be at Harper Woods police headquarters at 6:00 p.m. Friday demanding answers.

We’re told Michigan State Police are now investigating.