News (Media Awareness Project) - US CA: Deputies Cleared Of Death |
| Title: | US CA: Deputies Cleared Of Death |
| Published On: | 2005-09-27 |
| Source: | Long Beach Press-Telegram (CA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-15 12:23:53 |
DEPUTIES CLEARED OF DEATH
Los Angeles County sheriff's employees who hogtied and shocked a
Castaic jail inmate three times with a Taser gun acted lawfully and
will not be criminally charged in the inmate's death, prosecutors said Monday.
In July, relatives of Jerry John Moreno, 33, filed two wrongful death
claims totaling $12 million against the Sheriff's Department. They
alleged Moreno was hogtied and lying face down when he arrived at the
hospital, with a blanket wrapped around his head.
In a letter explaining why charges would not be filed, Deputy
District Attorney Christina Fleming Buckley wrote Moreno lost control
Jan. 10 at Pitchess Detention Center while under the influence of
drugs. He climbed on top of some bunk beds and while yelling
incoherently, armed himself with a piece of aluminum, swung it around
wildly, injuring another inmate.
Deputies fired 12 to 15 pepper balls at Moreno and used a Taser gun
to shock him, but it did not subdue him.
Deputies entered the cell and attempted to handcuff him, but he
struggled and his head either struck the bottom rail of the bed or
the cement floor. During the melee, he bit two deputies.
Deputies finally handcuffed him and secured his ankles with a device
attached to his handcuffs behind his back.
They later covered his head with a towel to prevent him from spitting
or biting anyone. He remained lying on his stomach while he was
transported to an area hospital, but no effort was made to reposition
him onto his side in compliance with department policy.
At the hospital, medical personnel found him in full cardiac arrest.
He was revived, but four days later was declared brain dead and taken
off life support.
"Ultimately, it took the combined efforts of eight deputies to
restrain Moreno who at the time of the incident was under the
influence of methamphetamine and marijuana," Buckley wrote.
Office of Independent Review attorney Stephen Connolly said sheriff's
Internal Affairs investigators will now determine whether any
discipline is warranted or if policies need to be changed.
Los Angeles County sheriff's employees who hogtied and shocked a
Castaic jail inmate three times with a Taser gun acted lawfully and
will not be criminally charged in the inmate's death, prosecutors said Monday.
In July, relatives of Jerry John Moreno, 33, filed two wrongful death
claims totaling $12 million against the Sheriff's Department. They
alleged Moreno was hogtied and lying face down when he arrived at the
hospital, with a blanket wrapped around his head.
In a letter explaining why charges would not be filed, Deputy
District Attorney Christina Fleming Buckley wrote Moreno lost control
Jan. 10 at Pitchess Detention Center while under the influence of
drugs. He climbed on top of some bunk beds and while yelling
incoherently, armed himself with a piece of aluminum, swung it around
wildly, injuring another inmate.
Deputies fired 12 to 15 pepper balls at Moreno and used a Taser gun
to shock him, but it did not subdue him.
Deputies entered the cell and attempted to handcuff him, but he
struggled and his head either struck the bottom rail of the bed or
the cement floor. During the melee, he bit two deputies.
Deputies finally handcuffed him and secured his ankles with a device
attached to his handcuffs behind his back.
They later covered his head with a towel to prevent him from spitting
or biting anyone. He remained lying on his stomach while he was
transported to an area hospital, but no effort was made to reposition
him onto his side in compliance with department policy.
At the hospital, medical personnel found him in full cardiac arrest.
He was revived, but four days later was declared brain dead and taken
off life support.
"Ultimately, it took the combined efforts of eight deputies to
restrain Moreno who at the time of the incident was under the
influence of methamphetamine and marijuana," Buckley wrote.
Office of Independent Review attorney Stephen Connolly said sheriff's
Internal Affairs investigators will now determine whether any
discipline is warranted or if policies need to be changed.
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