Coroner awaits autopsy in jail death of French citizen

Keith Paul

Monday, Jan. 15, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

Metro Police officials are waiting on an autopsy on a French national whose death after a violent struggle with Clark County jail guards earlier this month made international news.

Philippe LeMenn, 33, was pronounced dead at Valley Hospital Medical Center about 6 p.m. Jan. 4 after he was booked into the jail by Clark County school police on disorderly conduct, annoying a minor and causing a disturbance on school property.

While the Clark County coroner is waiting on toxicology tests to determine the cause of death, LeMenn's family hired their own pathologist, who said there was trauma to LeMenn's head, said Allen Lichtenstein, an attorney with the Las Vegas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"We are very concerned about the number of deaths at the jail, including the number of suicides and, of course, about the death in this situation," he said.

A video that showed the guards struggling with LeMenn was shown Sunday night on CBS News. French officials have contacted the U.S. State Department, Nevada officials and Metro Police about LeMenn's death.

When LeMenn was brought into the jail, he was combative both verbally and physically, Sgt. Christopher Darcy, a Metro spokesman, said.

LeMenn was taken to another cell when he started struggling with the guards. The guards tried to regain control of LeMenn, and during the struggle he collapsed, Darcy said.

A family member claims officers used excessive force. LeMenn's cousin, Phillip Moreau, who lives in Los Angeles, told the Associated Press that Metro Police told him LeMenn had died of "sudden inmate death syndrome."

The syndrome purportedly occurs after people in custody struggle violently while they have been handcuffed or restrained and stop breathing. Darcy couldn't confirm the department has issued such a statement.

"If he committed a crime, he shouldn't be treated like this," Moreau told the Associated Press. "What is this country about when someone is beaten while they are helpless?"

Police who have seen the video say LeMenn, who was described as 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 300 pounds, was tossing guards off his back during the struggle. The guards, as many as five, were struggling to get him handcuffed when LeMenn collapsed.

LeMenn's family complained that they and the French consulate were not notified when LeMenn was arrested. But police say LeMenn didn't tell them he was a French citizen and made bizarre statements about being Christ and saving the children.

Moreau said his cousin grew up in the Ivory Coast and followed him to the United States in the late 1980s. LeMenn moved to Las Vegas three years ago, and Moreau told the Associated Press his cousin recently opened the Thai-T restaurant. There is no listing in Las Vegas for such a restaurant.

"He never got into a fight. He was a very sweet guy," Moreau said.

Moreau said the family plans to sue Metro Police. Lichtenstein said he is putting the family in touch with an attorney.