Officers cleared in death of man

Monday, Aug. 19, 2002 | 10:02 a.m.

A Clark County coroner's inquest jury Friday cleared six North Las Vegas Police officers of any wrongdoing in the death of a man they restrained.

The jurors also ruled that the dead man, Roberto Arce, 31, not the officers, caused the death. It's a ruling that has only happened one other time -- also in a case where a man died while being restrained by police.

The jurors took about an hour to reach the verdict that the death was excusable, Mike Davidson, an assistant district attorney, said.

The coroner's office had ruled that Arce's death was a homicide, meaning that his death was caused by another. But the jury ruled otherwise.

Arce died April 11 at MountainView Hospital after the struggle with the officers on April 8 at his North Las Vegas home. A medical examiner ruled the cause of death was from restrain asphyxiation with cocaine intoxication and an enlarged heart as contributing factors.

Officers Shanye Skipworth and Mark Hoyt were called to the home after Arce's wife called police saying he was on drugs and destroying the house.

The officers testified Arce would not follow commands and appeared angry, with his fists clenched as he stood in his garage. He moved toward the officers and started to struggle with them, they said.

Several other officers were called to the scene and helped hold Arce down as he continued to kick, spit and flail about on the ground. He then stopped moving and was unresponsive. Paramedics were on the scene and started treating him, according to testimony.