The family of a 37-year-old Cleveland woman who died after police responded to a call for mental health assistance alleged a cover-up in the ongoing investigation and wrongful death lawsuit.
Tanisha Anderson died while in police custody on November 12, 2014 after family members sought mental health assistance for Anderson.
In a motion filed Thursday in federal court, Anderson's brother submitted an affidavit expressing the family's frustration over the investigation.
Joell Anderson said Tanisha's mother is "very upset with the delays," adding that it appeared "like a big effort to protect the officers."
Joell Anderson told Federal Judge Donald C. Nugent that it "feels like a cover-up."
The case involving two Cleveland police officers has been under investigation by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department since October of 2015 and has since been turned over to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
Meanwhile, the family's federal wrongful death lawsuit has been on hold after the officers were permitted not to testify in the civil case while a potential criminal case was pending.
"The investigation has dragged on for 17 months," said Anderson's brother, meanwhile, "police get to say nothing."
Anderson's attorneys have filed a motion to compel the officers to testify.
