A Douglas County grand jury returned no indictments Thursday after investigating seven in-custody deaths involving law officers.
The grand jury found no wrongdoing on the part of police officers or corrections officers in connection with any of the deaths.
Under state law, a grand jury is called when someone dies while in custody or while in the presence of police.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine and his chief deputy, Brenda Beadle, helped present evidence to the grand jurors who deliberated on each case.
Grand jurors found the following:
» Joseph M. Bacon, 42, died Dec. 19 as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the mouth. Bacon was involved in a standoff with a police SWAT team.
» David P. Borrink, 46, died Oct. 18 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest after police pulled him over.
» James R. Main, 64, died Oct. 27 of congestive heart failure in prison.
» Michael D. Moore, 26, died Feb. 18 of “excited delirium.'' Moore had entered a woman's home, assaulted her and struggled with neighbors and passersby. Several police officers subdued Moore and placed him in a cruiser. He stopped breathing and died later at a hospital.
» Antonio S. Vigil, 68, died Nov. 17 of heart disease in prison.
» Joe M. Weible, 35, died Dec. 6 when he was shot in the chest by Omaha police officers after driving in their direction. The officers had been trying to arrest Weible near 120th Street and West Center Road on a warrant charging him with the assault of a former girlfriend.
» Justin E. Watson, 26, died Dec. 19 of respiratory failure and possible kidney failure.
Watson's family has raised questions about his death, which occurred at a hospital seven days after police say he overdosed on narcotics, damaged a north Omaha residence and struggled with officers.
Police were called to 5022 N. 40th St. about 4:40 p.m. Dec. 12. Officers found Watson kicking and hitting a door with his fist. Police said Watson was combative with officers and appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
Police said they learned later that Watson had ingested narcotics before arriving at the residence. He reportedly had smoked “wet,'' marijuana laced with embalming fluid.
Watson's sister, Yolanda Black, has retained an attorney and questioned whether police used proper procedures in subduing Watson. The grand jury found no wrongdoing.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1275, todd.cooper@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
