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| Medical Examiner: Man Who Died In Tenn. Jail Beaten to Death |
| By The Tennessean |
| Published: 03/10/2003 |
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The January death of a man who had been arrested two days earlier and then spent several hours at the Wilson County Jail has been ruled a homicide, a medical examiner said. Meanwhile, the Wilson County Sheriff's Department, which runs the jail, also announced recently that a jail officer has been placed on administrative leave in connection with the Jan. 12 death of Walter Kuntz. ''The pattern of injuries that Mr. Kuntz had is consistent with inflicted injuries,'' county and state Medical Examiner Bruce Levy said, ''rather than accidentally sustained injuries.'' Levy said he ruled out that Kuntz's fatal injuries could have come from a vehicle crash he had been in or banging his head in a police car or in jail. Levy said he believed the injuries were sustained ''several hours'' before Kuntz was found unresponsive in the Wilson County Jail. Kuntz died from blunt force trauma to the head and torso, Levy said. ''Right now we don't know when or where it happened,'' said Tommy Thompson, Wilson County district attorney general, who ordered the investigation into Kuntz' death. ''It was labeled a homicide from some sort of beating. When and how is why the TBI and FBI investigation is continuing.'' Family members have charged that Kuntz was beaten to death by police after his arrest. Kuntz' death also has prompted a $40 million civil suit by his family against Lebanon police, whose officers arrested Kuntz. Wilson County Sheriff Terry Ashe said officer Gary Hale was placed on administrative leave with pay. Ashe said Patrick Marlowe, another officer involved in the handling of Kuntz at the jail, resigned about two weeks ago. The sheriff said the reasons given for Marlowe's resignation were not related to the Kuntz investigation. Ashe said ''public trust'' was the reason for his decision to place his officer on administrative leave. ''It does not imply anyone did anything wrong,'' Ashe said. ''I have to answer for my law enforcement agency and I can't answer for the others.'' |
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