Tanisha Anderson

Tanisha Anderson (Photo courtesy of the Anderson family)

The death of Tanisha Anderson, the 37-year-old woman killed by Cleveland police, has been ruled a homicide.

The Northeast Ohio Media Group reports that the official report from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s office, states that “sudden death associated with physical restraint in a prone position.” A representative from the office noted that Anderson’s heart disease and bipolar disorder were factors that increased her chances of sudden death.

Anderson’s family called the police twice on November 13th, to report that she was disturbing the peace. Anderson was experiencing an episode and agreed to be taken to hospital for a mental health evaluation.

That’s when it all went wrong. Anderson’s brother, Joell, told the news organization that his sister became nervous and no longer want to go to the hospital.

She left the police car and from there, an officer performed a “take-down” move by placing his knee on her back as with her face down on the concrete. It was then that Anderson stopped moving.

Police investigators have yet to determine whether the officer’s use of force was justified.

Remember: #BlackLivesMatter means women like Tanisha Anderson.