Posted on January 19th, 2023

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Chana Wiley has experienced a lifetime of trauma watching loved ones perish from gun violence and mental illness. 

The Columbus native lost her mother at age 2. Wiley’s mother became a victim of gun violence, with Wiley’s own father pulling the trigger. 

What You Need To Know

• Chana Wiley’s father killed her mother when Wiley was two-years-old
• In 2017, she lost her 36-year-old brother Jaron Thomas, who was struggling with mental health issues and drug use
• Wiley and her family argued in a federal lawsuit that Thomas needed medical treatment, but was assaulted by police, suffering brain damage, and multiple blood clots, among other injuries
• Five years later, Wiley continues to dispute those findings and is keeping up her fight through the Columbus Safety Collective

And in 2017, she lost her 36-year-old brother Jaron Thomas, a father of three and a musician, who was struggling with mental health issues and drug use. He died in police custody.

“Police misconduct, leading to death, especially of someone who is mentally ill or even someone who is not mentally ill, every time I see those stories, it takes me back to my brother,” Wiley said.

Thomas reached out to 911 after experiencing a mental health crisis. Wiley and her family argued in a federal lawsuit that Thomas needed medical treatment, but was assaulted by police, suffering brain damage, and multiple blood clots, among other injuries. Thomas died nine days after the incident. 

The coroner ruled his death accidental, caused by lack of oxygen to his brain due to of cardiac arrest because of cocaine use. The officers and city denied any wrongdoing and the case was dismissed, with the court saying Thomas was resisting arrest and police did not use excessive force.

Five years later, Wiley continues to dispute those findings, and is keeping up her fight through the Columbus Safety Collective. 

“We re-imagine public safety in a way that we never have to see another Jaron Thomas story," she said. "We should be able to provide them help because we do have the resources as a city to do so. And that's why we want the mayor to fund our response system that does not involve police."

Wiley said her family continues to suffer the ripple effects of her brother's death.

But she knows continuing the fight will help her brother's legacy live on. 

“We are suffering and we are healing and it's a new normal for our entire family," she said. "I feel his presence, even though he's not here. I feel his spirit and I feel that he is in a better place. And then he is happy, if you can feel happy. You know I feel like he's up in heaven and he's like you really, really love me."

The Columbus Safety Collective is hoping a new program will be funded in the city's 2023 budget. 

Source: Sprectrum News.