Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Triple-digit days, hot nights in the forecast ... Cobleigh Road Bridge to close for inspection Tuesday morning ... Since You Asked: Wimer Dam fish salvage yields nada natives ... Triple-digit days, hot nights in the forecast ... Cobleigh Road Bridge to close for inspection Tuesday morning ... Since You Asked: Wimer Dam fish salvage yields nada natives ... LAWSUIT Mother blames deputies, stun guns for son's death Comment By Stephen DuBois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Stephen DuBois The Associated Press Posted Mar. 4, 2015 at 4:04 PM By Stephen DuBois The Associated Press Posted Mar. 4, 2015 at 4:04 PM » Social News PORTLAND — The mother of a Southern Oregon man who died during an incident with law enforcement officers has sued the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, saying deputies used excessive force. The federal lawsuit filed in Eugene on behalf of Ann McKelvey, who represents the estate, says deputies discharged Tasers at least a half dozen times when trying to stop Walter Ray McKelvey, 26, from running into traffic on March 3, 2013, including after he was restrained and told deputies his heart hurt. McKelvey's attorney, J. Randolph Pickett, declined comment Wednesday. The sheriff's office did not immediately return a phone message. According to the complaint and prior news accounts, the incident began when Walter McKelvey called police for help from Ray's Food Place on Main Street in Canyonville, which is 200 miles south of Portland. McKelvey had many previous run-ins with authorities and was released from jail just a few days before. When Deputy Sam Clayton responded, McKelvey told him he didn't call the sheriff's office. Instead, he asked Clayton for a ride to the local casino. The deputy denied the request and tried to leave. McKelvey, however, flagged him down, saying he we being harassed by people. The deputy saw no one harassing McKelvey. Another deputy, Jayson Forte, arrived. As Forte conferred with Clayton, McKelvey went to the edge of the road and tried to hitch a ride to the casino. The deputies went to the street to speak with McKelvey, who told them he had used methamphetamine earlier in the evening. Forte tried to pull McKelvey away from the street, but he broke away and went into traffic, leading the deputies to fire their stun guns. McKelvey fell to the ground, and the deputies got on top of him. The complaint says deputies continued firing their Tasers, even after McKelvey yelled for help. "Several witnesses were at the scene and also reported that McKelvey was crying out for help," the lawsuit says. "Some witnesses even begged the deputies to stop discharging their Tasers." The lawsuit does not identify these witnesses. McKelvey stopped breathing at the scene. An autopsy found that meth intoxication, a brain cyst and excited delirium — a condition in which the heart races during a period of stress, often after drug use — caused McKelvey's death. The lawsuit says the deputies should have known not to use a Taser on someone who had taken meth. A grand jury ruled in 2013 that the force used against McKelvey was legally justified. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money for the beneficiaries of McKelvey's estate, including his parents, two daughters and a son. Besides the sheriff's office, the lawsuit names the deputies and Taser International Inc. as defendants. By Stephen DuBois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Stephen DuBois The Associated Press Posted Mar. 4, 2015 at 4:04 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501