Use of Force Board clears three Metro Police officers

Keith Paul

Wednesday, May 29, 2002 | 9:37 a.m.

Metro Police's Use of Force Board ruled Tuesday night that three officers did not violate department force guidelines while struggling with a man who died from asphyxiation.

The board's ruling that Officers James Coovert, Christopher Peto and Matthew Gillis were within department guidelines comes about three weeks after a Clark County coroner's inquest found the man's death was an excusable homicide, clearing the officers of any criminal wrongdoing.

Craig Becker, 46, died Feb. 16 after struggling with police. Officers went to his East Washington Avenue house after reports that Becker, who told police he was Jesus Christ, had spent the better part of the morning destroying the place in front of his two teenage sons.

"The officers took him to the ground and handcuffed him," Deputy Chief Ray Flynn said. "Their intention was for him to be taken to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation."

Instead Becker died during the struggle. An autopsy ruled he died from restraint asphyxia and posterior neck compression with contributing factors of obesity, agitated delirium and artery disease, Dr. Donna Smith, a county medical examiner, testified at the May 2 inquest.

The force of holding Becker face down, along with Becker resisting, could have caused the asphyxiation, she said.

Flynn said the officers were trying to subdue Becker, not harm him.