Coroner: Police struggle primary cause of death
Man likely would have survived if not for drug use, heart disease
The Associated Press
CINCINNATI -- The coroner said Wednesday that a struggle with police was the primary cause in the death of a 350-pound black man whose scuffle with police outside a fast-food restaurant has prompted outcry among black activists in Cincinnati.
Hamilton County Coroner Carl Parrott said Nathaniel Jones, 41, suffered from an enlarged heart, obesity and had intoxicating levels of cocaine, PCP and methanol in his blood.
He said that if Jones hadn't been using cocaine and other drugs, and if he hadn't had heart disease that may have resulted from drug use, he probably would have survived the struggle.
Parrott said the death will be ruled a homicide, but added that such a ruling "should not be interpreted as implying inappropriate behavior or the use of excessive force by police."
Jones' death certificate will list a cause of death as an irregular heart beat because of a stress reaction from the violent struggle, Parrott said.
Activists say Jones' death was another example of brutality by Cincinnati police against blacks in the city rocked by race riots in 2001.
Jones died Sunday after being taken into custody in the parking lot of a White Castle restaurant. A police cruiser video camera showed Jones lunge at officers, who repeatedly hit him with metal nightsticks during the struggle.
Jones' body had bruising on the lower half, but did not show signs of blows to the head or organ damage, Parrott said.
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