Post by Modesto Anarcho on Feb 4, 2009 17:56:44 GMT -5
Man dies in sheriff's tussle
Witness says deputies hit suspect with batons
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Christian Burkin
By Christian Burkin
Record Staff Writer
February 04, 2009 6:00 AM
STOCKTON - A 45-year-old man died Monday night after a struggle with deputies in front of the home where he lived in unincorporated north Stockton.
According to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, deputies were sent at about 9:10 p.m. to the 2600 block of De Ovan Avenue on a report that a man, later identified as Garrett Wade Jones Jr., was acting "crazy," had damaged property and had stolen a bicycle. The caller was a friend of Jones', the Sheriff's Office reported.
Deputy Les Garcia, a Sheriff's Office spokesman, said that when deputies arrived, Jones did not comply with their directions and was shot with a stun gun. That appeared to have no effect, so deputies attempted to wrestle Jones under control, Garcia said.
Once subdued, Jones began to have breathing problems. Paramedics were summoned, but before they arrived, Jones stopped breathing, Garcia said. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him but failed. Jones was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Garcia said it's still unknown why Jones died. An autopsy and toxicology analysis are still pending.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office have opened an investigation, which is routine, and the four deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave. Garcia said the Sheriff's Office would not provide their names until the investigation was completed.
Terica Caldwell, who lives just a few doors away from Jones, said she was a witness to the struggle.
Caldwell said the deputies chased Jones, struggled with him, then shot him with a stun gun multiple times. The stun gun didn't work - Jones was wearing a heavy leather jacket, both the Sheriff's Office and Caldwell offered as a possible explanation - and deputies tackled Jones.
Then they began to hit him with batons, Caldwell said, prompting her to shout, "You guys are going to kill him."
Caldwell said that when Jones stopped breathing, deputies did not aid him. Instead, they continued to wait for paramedics, she said.
Deputies are trained in first aid and CPR, and whether they rendered aid, or should have under the circumstances, is part of the investigation, Garcia said.
Two deputies were treated at a hospital for minor injuries suffered in their struggle with Jones, Garcia said. They may have hit Jones with their batons, he said.
Jones was a big man - 6 feet 4 inches tall and about 250 pounds, according to the Sheriff's Office - but was not violent, Caldwell said.
"He was never violent," she said. "He was never known to have hurt anybody."
He did resist arrest, Caldwell said, but he eventually gave up.
She said she heard him say: "I'm done. I've had enough."
Jones' family could not be reached for comment.
Contact reporter Christian Burkin at (209) 546-8279 or cburkin@recordnet.com.
Witness says deputies hit suspect with batons
Print this ArticlePrint this Article Email this ArticleEmail this Article
Text Size: A | A | A
Christian Burkin
By Christian Burkin
Record Staff Writer
February 04, 2009 6:00 AM
STOCKTON - A 45-year-old man died Monday night after a struggle with deputies in front of the home where he lived in unincorporated north Stockton.
According to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, deputies were sent at about 9:10 p.m. to the 2600 block of De Ovan Avenue on a report that a man, later identified as Garrett Wade Jones Jr., was acting "crazy," had damaged property and had stolen a bicycle. The caller was a friend of Jones', the Sheriff's Office reported.
Deputy Les Garcia, a Sheriff's Office spokesman, said that when deputies arrived, Jones did not comply with their directions and was shot with a stun gun. That appeared to have no effect, so deputies attempted to wrestle Jones under control, Garcia said.
Once subdued, Jones began to have breathing problems. Paramedics were summoned, but before they arrived, Jones stopped breathing, Garcia said. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him but failed. Jones was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Garcia said it's still unknown why Jones died. An autopsy and toxicology analysis are still pending.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office have opened an investigation, which is routine, and the four deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave. Garcia said the Sheriff's Office would not provide their names until the investigation was completed.
Terica Caldwell, who lives just a few doors away from Jones, said she was a witness to the struggle.
Caldwell said the deputies chased Jones, struggled with him, then shot him with a stun gun multiple times. The stun gun didn't work - Jones was wearing a heavy leather jacket, both the Sheriff's Office and Caldwell offered as a possible explanation - and deputies tackled Jones.
Then they began to hit him with batons, Caldwell said, prompting her to shout, "You guys are going to kill him."
Caldwell said that when Jones stopped breathing, deputies did not aid him. Instead, they continued to wait for paramedics, she said.
Deputies are trained in first aid and CPR, and whether they rendered aid, or should have under the circumstances, is part of the investigation, Garcia said.
Two deputies were treated at a hospital for minor injuries suffered in their struggle with Jones, Garcia said. They may have hit Jones with their batons, he said.
Jones was a big man - 6 feet 4 inches tall and about 250 pounds, according to the Sheriff's Office - but was not violent, Caldwell said.
"He was never violent," she said. "He was never known to have hurt anybody."
He did resist arrest, Caldwell said, but he eventually gave up.
She said she heard him say: "I'm done. I've had enough."
Jones' family could not be reached for comment.
Contact reporter Christian Burkin at (209) 546-8279 or cburkin@recordnet.com.