Re: Coroner Rules That Cincinnati Cops Killed Fatso

Officers involved to receive commendations at
public ceremony this Saturday, December 6th.

"brojack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Coroner Rules 350-Pound Man's Death a Homicide
>
> Wednesday, December 03, 2003
>
> CINCINNATI — The coroner said Wednesday that a struggle with police
> was the primary cause in the death of a 350-pound black man whose
> scuffle with officers outside a fast-food restaurant has prompted
> outcry among black activists in Cincinnati.
>
> Hamilton County Coroner Carl Parrott said Nathaniel Jones (search),
> 41, suffered from an enlarged heart, obesity and had intoxicating
> levels of cocaine, PCP and methanol in his blood.
>
> Parrott said the death will be ruled a homicide, but added that such a
> ruling "should not be interpreted as implying inappropriate behavior
> or the use of excessive force by police."
>
> Jones' death certificate will list a cause of death as an irregular
> heart beat because of a stress reaction from the violent struggle,
> Parrott said.
>
> Activists say Jones' death was another example of brutality by
> Cincinnati police against blacks in a city that was rocked by race
> riots two years ago.
>
> Jones died Sunday after being taken into custody in the parking lot of
> a White Castle restaurant. A police cruiser video camera showed Jones
> lunge at officers, who repeatedly hit him with metal nightsticks
> during the struggle.
>
> Jones' body had bruising on the lower half, but did not show signs of
> blows to the head or organ damage, Parrott said.
>
> The coroner's ruling came shortly after lawyers for Jones' family
> called for an independent investigation of his death, claiming the
> coroner has mishandled past cases.
>
> "It's hard for me to believe anything that comes out of the coroner's
> office," attorney Kenneth Lawson said at a news conference.
>
> Relatives said Jones was a loving person who never hurt anyone.
>
> "They talk about Skip like he was an animal," said his grandmother,
> Bessie Jones. "He wasn't. Skipper was just a good old, fat jolly
> fella. He wasn't violent."
>
> "Everyone he met, that he touched, loved him," said his aunt, Diane
> Payton. "He was never mean."
>
>