Metro probe rules excessive force used in suspect’s arrest

Monday, Feb. 15, 1999 | 11:33 a.m.

A Metro Police Internal Affairs investigation has revealed that excessive force was used by a corrections officer in subduing a North Las Vegas man at the Clark County Detention Center in November.

The investigation confirmed that officer David Devaney violated department policy by kicking Terry Jones in his head on Nov. 21, police said.

Devaney, who also used his foot to hold down Jones' head, will not be criminally prosecuted. Instead he will face yet-to-be-determined disciplinary action from detention administrators.

Jones, 33, was pronounced dead at the University Medical Center two hours after he had been arrested on suspicion of felony drunken driving on the night of Nov. 21. Jones allegedly threatened corrections officers at the jail and became combative when medical staff attempted to take a blood sample.

A half-dozen officers tried to restrain Jones, who continued to struggle and went into cardiac arrest and died.

An autopsy performed by Dr. Sheldon Green on Nov. 22 showed that Jones died from acute cardiac arrhythmia because of coronary artery insufficiency.

Green ruled the death accidental, and said that Jones' hypertension and obesity contributed to his weakened heart. Jones was 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 260 pounds.

According to the coroner's report, Devaney's actions did not contribute to his death, but they still violated department policy, Lt. Rick Alba said.