Memorial held for man who died in county jail

Andrew Bridges

Monday, Jan. 29, 2001 | 10:51 a.m.

LOS ANGELES -- Family and friends gathered Sunday to remember Philippe Le Menn, a 33-year-old French citizen who died after struggling with guards in the Clark County Detention Center.

Le Menn died Jan. 4 after scuffling with guards in the jail, where he had been booked on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, annoying a minor and causing a disturbance on school property.

Le Menn's family was expected to announce today that it is filing a federal lawsuit in connection with his death.

"It seems to me he was beaten up without reason, because he was restrained by handcuffs and he was naked," Le Menn's father, Yves Le Menn, said before a memorial Mass celebrated at St. John Vianney Chapel.

Metro Police has denied jail guards beat Le Menn to death.

Le Menn's struggle with guards was recorded on security cameras, with the tape later shown on French and American television.

Friends and relatives said in the days before Le Menn's death, he had acted erratically, telling people he was being followed.

"He thought that people were definitely after him," said Curtis Bledsoe, Le Menn's Las Vegas roommate.

Le Menn was born in the Ivory Coast, where his father had a banana plantation, and later moved to France. He had lived in the United States for 15 years, recently bouncing between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.