HALF A BUBBLE

Jesse Saenz Followup- Raton, NM post-taser death ruled a homicide.

Last November Jesse Saenz died at the hands of thug cops Leonard Baca and Nolberto Dominguez in Raton, NM. Today his death was ruled a homicide. The autopsy report claims death “likely” was not caused by 23 taser shocks administered by two guns over a period of five minutes.

The New Mexico State Medical Investigator concluded that Saenz’s breathing abilities were “markedly impaired” when, after extensive tasering, he was placed face down in the back of a patrol car with his legs shackled and bent behind him and a police officer sitting on his lower back. Dr. Jeffrey S. Nine also found high levels of cocaine and the presence of marijuana in Saenz’s bloodstream after he died in the early morning hours of Nov. 18, 2007.

The autopsy found multiple abrasions on Saenz’s neck and chest, a broken rib, and a puncture wound on the left side of his abdomen believed to be related to the shocking — a metal Taser tip was discovered beneath his skin. The physical restraint and position of his body impaired Saenz’s breathing ability, heightened the effect of the drugs in his system and contributed significantly to his death, the report concluded.

Raton Police Chief Vince Mares declined to discuss specifics of the case, but confirmed that the officer who sat on Saenz’s back remains on administrative leave. It is unknown whether criminal charges would be filed. A call to the Eighth Judicial District Attorney in Raton wasn’t returned.

It’s remarkable that the Investigator managed to ignore the potential effects of repeated, prolonged, taser shock from multiple weapons that was, even by the standards of Taser International, excessive. The irregularities surrounding this case stink of a whitewash.

• Police claimed they tasered Jesse once. He was tasered 23 times by two officers over a period of five minutes.
• The investigation was turned over to the NM State Police but the autopsy report was released by the office of the State Medical Investigator.
• The State Police were unaware of the report prior to its release and unsure of how it would impact their investigation.
• Both officers claim their Tasers malfunctioned. Taser International has not released a statement about the alleged simultaneous malfunctions.

It will be interesting to see whether the Raton Police stick to their story about Taser malfunction, and how Taser International responds to that claim.