Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Suitcase causes bomb scare at Akron bus terminal
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
New eateries expand menu of options
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Louisville athlete commits to play for Boston College
Family found dead in Ohio home
Blogs:
Pets:
It Takes All Kinds
The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader
Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
Flashes interested in another Cincinnati player
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook
Varsity Letters:
Report: Walsh baseball player commits
All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
Special prosecutor to investigate change in autopsy findings
By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, May 16, 2008
Medina County Prosecutor Dean Holman was appointed Thursday to investigate a possible appeal of a recent judge's ruling that changed the autopsy findings in the 2006 death of an inmate at the Summit County Jail.
On May 2, visiting Summit County Judge Ted Schneiderman ordered the manner of death in the autopsy report on inmate Mark D. McCullaugh Jr., 28, be changed from ''homicide'' to ''undetermined.''
Schneiderman's ruling followed a four-day trial over a civil lawsuit filed against the county medical examiner, Dr. Lisa J. Kohler, by Taser International Inc. and the city of Akron.
That suit challenged Kohler's findings that the use of a Taser stun gun was a contributing factor in the death of McCullaugh and two other unrelated deaths involving confrontations with Summit County law enforcement officers.
Five Summit sheriff's deputies are facing criminal trials in the McCullaugh case, and last week their lawyers filed a motion to dismiss all charges, directly citing Schneiderman's decision in their arguments to visiting Judge Herman F. Inderlied Jr.
A decision by Inderlied, a retired judge from Geauga County who was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court to handle the McCullaugh case, is pending.
Deputy Stephen Krendick, 34, is facing the most serious charge, a single count of murder, in McCullaugh's death.
Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh asked for the appointment of Holman as special prosecutor, saying in court papers that it was being done to ''avoid the appearance of impropriety or a conflict of interest.''
Walsh argued that the conflict stems from Schneiderman's decision, ''which goes well beyond the narrow scope'' of Taser's civil suit.
Walsh said the only issue in that trial was whether the Taser contributed in any way to cause the three deaths.
But the broad scope of Schneiderman's ruling ''orders removal of a variety of other findings, and thus . . . any appeal would necessarily implicate the conduct of the involved law enforcement officers,'' Walsh wrote in her motion.
A spokeswoman for Walsh did not return messages seeking further comment on the possible appeal of Schneiderman's ruling.
Schneiderman, who retired from the Common Pleas bench in 2003, handles various civil and criminal cases as a visiting judge.
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, the court's administrative judge, approved Walsh's request for the special prosecutor and named Holman to handle the investigation.
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
Medina County Prosecutor Dean Holman was appointed Thursday to investigate a possible appeal of a recent judge's ruling that changed the autopsy findings in the 2006 death of an inmate at the Summit County Jail.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
