Memorial Wall for Victims of Law Enforcement Violence

[GitRDun]

24. Luis Rodriguez

A 44 year old man, died from asphyxia, an attorney for Rodriguez’s widow said at a news conference September 16, 2014.

Police version:

Rodriguez died Feb. 15 following an encounter with five law enforcement officers outside the Warren Theatre in Moore. Three Moore police officers and two game wardens struggled to handcuff Rodriguez in the parking lot.

The state medical examiner said Rodriguez died of a heart condition known as cardiac arrhythmia, brought on by physical restraint. Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn announced June 20 he would not file charges against the officers. All of the officers have returned to duty.

Family autopsy

The private autopsy, paid for by the family, was conducted Feb. 20 by Dr. Kyung-Whan Min of Private Autopsy Service in Oklahoma City.

In a cell phone video shot by Rodriguez’s wife, Nair, Luis Rodriguez could be seen lying on his stomach as the officers attempted to handcuff him, pressing his face into the pavement. His position caused positional asphyxia, restricting the movement of his diaphragm, Min wrote in his report.

Min’s report also shows Rodriguez’s lungs appeared collapsed.

At the link, the family attorney discusses multiple instances of the police calling or visiting the medical examiner's office prior to the ME report being released. They have asked for a federal investigation and are going to sue for wrongful death.

http://newsok.com/private-autopsy-suggests-asphyxia-caused-death-during-struggle-at-warren-theatre/article/5342662

My guess is the pattern continues, no officer sanctions, out of court settlement with the family.