CRIME

State investigators say FBI aiding inquiry of man's death after encounter with police officer

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this July 11, 2015 photograph, sign of support for Jonathan Sanders, a black man who is believed to have died after a physical encounter with a white police officer, hangs on a corner in Stonewall, Miss. A couple hundred people participated in a prayer vigil and march in Stonewall, on Saturday. The participants walked from a neighborhood ball park to the area where it is believed Sanders died on July 8. (Jennifer Bozeman/The Clarke County Tribune, via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

In this July 11, 2015 photograph, people participate in a Justice for Jonathan Sanders prayer vigil and march in Stonewall, Miss. The participants walked from a neighborhood ball park to the area where it is believed Sanders, a black man died after a physical encounter with a white police officer on July 8. (Jennifer Bozeman/The Clarke County Tribune, via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

Stonewall Police Chief Michael Street speaks to a assembly of concerned Stonewall, Miss., residents, Tuesday, July 14, 2015, about the death of Jonathan Sanders, following a physical encounter with a white police office. Street said he has turned the inquiry over to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, as is typical when a police officer is involved in someone's death in Mississippi. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy) (The Associated Press)

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation says the FBI is helping with its inquiry into a man who died after an encounter with a police officer.

MBI spokesman Warren Strain said Tuesday that the body of Jonathan Sanders was returned to the family over the weekend, although officials are still analyzing autopsy results.

Sanders died July 8 in the town of Stonewall while he was driving a horse and buggy. Strain says authorities are not yet releasing a cause of death. Officials also have released few details about Sanders' encounter with the officer.

Residents held multiple events over the weekend to protest Sanders death.

Chokwe Antar Lumumba, a lawyer for Sanders' family, says the 39-year-old Sanders is scheduled to be buried Sunday.

Lumumba says family members believe police are at fault.