Nevada inmate was pepper-sprayed by guards and held face down before he died. His death was ruled a homicide

Rio Yamat, Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Nevada captive died aft he was pepper-sprayed by guards, unopen successful a retention room, shackled and restrained pinch his look to nan ground, according to an autopsy study obtained by The Associated Press.

Patrick Odale’s decease connected Dec. 28, 2023, astatine nan Southern Desert Correctional Center has been ruled a homicide.

The autopsy study finalized successful precocious August follows a astir nine-month coroner investigation into Odale’s decease astatine nan mostly mean information situation adjacent Las Vegas. The Clark County coroner’s agency recovered Odale, who was 39, died of “positional and mechanical asphyxia successful nan mounting of rule enforcement restraint.”

Michael Freeman, an Oregon-based forensic pathology master who was not progressive successful nan investigation, said “mechanical and positional asphyxia” typically happens erstwhile a personification is restrained while look down pinch their hands down their back, arsenic unit is placed connected their torso, arms aliases neck.

Low levels of methamphetamine and xylazine, an animal sedative, were besides recovered successful Odale’s system, and nan coroner’s agency described nan narcotics arsenic a “major contributor” successful his death.

The Nevada Department of Corrections did not disclose immoderate details, including that Odale was restrained, erstwhile it announced his decease successful a January news release.

The agency said Thursday it had nary remark connected nan autopsy report, citing its “active investigation.” A spokesperson for authorities Attorney General Aaron Ford’s agency besides declined to comment.

No accusation has been released connected really galore officers were involved, if immoderate of them were disciplined aliases really Odale was capable to entree narcotics while successful custody astatine Southern Desert, wherever situation officials person said contraband was an issue.

In May, a corrections serviceman was arrested arsenic portion of nan agency’s alleged “crack down connected contraband.” The serviceman allegedly brought cigarettes, lighters, cellphones, vape pens, baccy and liquid herb into nan facility, according to tribunal records.

Odale, a begetter of two, was sentenced successful early 2023 to up to 2 years successful situation for possessing a stolen in installments paper and attempting to transportation a concealed weapon, tribunal records show.

On nan nighttime of Odale’s death, officers said he was “erratic and growling” astatine them, according to nan autopsy. The guards pepper-sprayed him and kept him successful a retention room pinch gait devices for respective minutes until he began “thrashing nan room,” nan study says. Then officers pulled him to nan ground, restrained him and took him to nan situation infirmary.

According to nan autopsy, situation and aesculapian unit administered Narcan, an overdose-reversing drug, respective times.

As portion of nan coroner’s investigation, nan aesculapian examiner tasked pinch determining nan origin and mode of Odale’s decease reviewed video of nan incident. The autopsy study indicates that location whitethorn beryllium a spread successful nan footage.

The footage, arsenic described by nan aesculapian examiner successful nan report, shows Odale groaning arsenic he is taken to nan situation infirmary. He is face-down pinch his hands shackled down his back. Then, nan autopsy says, “after a gap, video sum resumes,” showing situation unit performing CPR connected an unresponsive Odale.

“When nan video resumes, nan inmate is face-up pinch hands shackled anteriorly,” nan aesculapian examiner wrote, meaning that his hands were nary longer shackled down him but were successful beforehand of his body.

He was pronounced dormant soon after.

Taken together, nan aesculapian examiner ruled, Odale died because he was restrained successful a position that prevented him from breathing decently on pinch nan effects of his caller supplier use.

Amy Estrada, nan mother of Odale’s young boy and daughter, said Friday that Odale was a kind-hearted personification and loving begetter who wouldn’t deliberation doubly astir giving distant his past dollar to personification successful need.

Three days earlier Odale died, Estrada and their children yet received support from nan situation to sojourn Odale. Estrada said he told nan kids complete nan phone, “Finally we get to spot each other!”

His children weren’t capable to sojourn earlier his death.

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Former Associated Press writer Gabe Stern contributed to this study from Reno, Nevada.