Sheriff responds to family demanding justice for unarmed Black man

Sheriff: Kevon Todd dies of drug overdose, not officer's use of force

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ā€“ Attorney Robyn Blake said Thursday that South Florida has its own unresolved case of an unarmed Black man who was likely killed at the hands of Broward Sheriffā€™s Office deputies. Sheriff Gregory Tony responded to the accusation hours later on Friday.

Blake is representing the family of Kevon Todd, who Broward County authorities reported died on April 9 in Fort Lauderdale. Deputies had contact with Todd at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airportā€™s Terminal 3.

ā€œIt is a great injustice when today ā€• 84 days after the incident ā€” BSO can only tell us that itā€™s still investigating the matter,ā€ Blake said, adding deputies ā€œsubdued him in a way that he ended up losing his life for it.ā€ Todd was 29.

Tony released a statement Friday saying the Medical Examinerā€™s Office concluded Todd died of a drug overdose and the deputies did not contribute to his death.

Tony also released deputiesā€™ body-cam video showing Todd was on the floor with his hands up after a deputy moved to subdue him at a TSA checkpoint.

Miramar family to Broward Sheriff's Office: Justice for Kevin Todd

Toddā€™s relatives said he was sweet and funny. But without a proper diagnosis and effective treatment, his mental health issues tortured him. Blake said Todd was still wearing a red hospital band when he showed up to the airport wanting to travel without money or luggage.

Deputies accused Todd of attempting to breach a security checkpoint after shouting at JetBlue staff. The family doesnā€™t doubt the accusation. They just donā€™t think he should have died for it. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel reported Todd was unresponsive when they arrived to FLLā€™s Terminal 3.

The deputies reported suffering minor injuries during their interaction with Todd. According to BSO, Fire Rescue personnel took Todd to Broward Health Medical Center where a doctor pronounced him dead at 11:25 a.m.

Tony said deputies are turning over the evidence in the case to the Broward County State Attorneyā€™s Office. Blake said Toddā€™s family wants to see the evidence and is asking anyone with information about Toddā€™s death to call her at 305-651-5505.


About the Authors:

In January 2017, Hatzel Vela became the first local television journalist in the country to move to Cuba and cover the island from the inside. During his time living and working in Cuba, heĀ covered some of the most significant stories in a post-Fidel Castro Cuba.Ā 

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.