Essence Bowman: Woman struck & killed by car while in police custody
Essence Bowman, a 27-year-old woman from Virginia, was killed under dubious circumstances while in Sulphur, Louisiana, on June 22, 2016.
Relatives of the loving wife and mother of four children are searching for answers as the information they have pertaining to her death is limited and sketchy at best.
Black Girl Tragic has contacted the Sulphur Mayor's Office seeking answers. We have also reached out to Veronica Allison, District 3 City Councilwoman and are awaiting a response, wherein we will update this story.
Bowman reportedly was detained by police after they were called to the Pelican Motel. Once law enforcement got there they arrested a group of people, including Bowman, who was intoxicated, according to online reports about the incident.
She "was arrested after a disturbance in a motel, cuffed and placed in the back of a locked police cruiser," her sister said on Twitter.
According to the officers' account, which was reported by WAFB in Baton Rouge, Bowman somehow escaped custody and ran into the street, where she was struck and killed by a car.
Bowman was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Now this is where things go awry: Exactly how did she get out of a police cruiser, especially if she was intoxicated ... and restrained? Also, how did the police not notify the family instead of the hospital?
The bottom line: If Bowman was legally detained and restrained, was there some negligence on the police officers' part that could be rightly attributed to them?
Mel Gleeson, Bowman's sister, blogger DeAsia Paige that "Essence was sweet and soft spoken. When she was under treatment for her bipolar disorder, she was a hard-working mom."
According to Paige, Sulphur authorities say "she [Bowman] was strong", "she ran 100 yards" and that "she ran 200 yards", " and that the officer running after her was "out of shape."
As told to DeAsia Paige, Gleeson said, "I want people to know that Sulphur Louisiana Police Department was responsible for her death. We want to know what really happened. Their version is missing significant details that could shed light on how a domestic disturbance became a death sentence."
Bowman's funeral service was Saturday, July 9. A GoFundMe account asks for help with burial expenses and the needs of her four children.
"We ask if you could please contribute to her going home celebration as well as to supporting her 4 little ones who will undoubtedly need many things as they transition and stabilize to a new life without their Mommy. Funds beyond what is utilized for funeral service expenses will be placed in a trust for the children to assist them as they grow older and to obtain counseling services as they may need it," the GoFundMe says.
