Family questions police actions after son's death

PORTLAND, Ore. - The death of a man who died while in police custody has been ruled an accident, but members of his family are questioning just how he suffered deadly injuries during a struggle with officers.

James Chasse, 42, died Sept. 17 while police were transporting him to a local hospital. According to the Medical Examiner's ruling, Chasse died as a result of a broad-based, blunt force trauma to his chest. The toxicology results were negative.

Police Chief Rosie Sizer said Thursday that the Portland Police Bureau is doing everything it can to investigate what happened the night Chasse died.

Meanwhile, Chasse's family is saying they believe he died an unnecessary death at the hands of police.  According to his family, Chasse was a diagnosed schizophrenic, but they say he was the most gentle person they knew.  They say the night he died, he was simply out for a walk from the halfway house in downtown Portland where he lived.

"Our family is deeply saddened by the death of James," said his father, James Chasse, Sr.  "We loved James and so did others who knew him.  This is an excruciatingly tragic end to James' life."

Chasse died during an incident with police that ended at Northeast 33rd and Sandy Boulevard.  The evening began, officers say, with two of them noticing Chasse acting in a "bizarre behavior" near Northwest 18th and Everett.  Sometime later, officers say they thought Chasse was urinating in the street. 

What happened next was a chase and a fight, during which officers say Chasse bit one of them and tried to bite another. 

Chasse ended up on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back.  A paramedic checked him out, but did not take him to the hospital.  Chasse was instead taken to jail and according to police, a nurse at the jail said he should receive further medical treatment. 

When officers were transporting him to the hospital, he died.  The officers said they performed CPR.

The version of events between what police say happened and what his family believes happened is what is now under review.

"We have uncovered nothing to suggest that there was any reason whatsoever for the Portland police to assault Jim, to smash him to the pavement, to kick him, to strike him with fists, to shoot a stun gun at him four times, to hog-tie him, to get up and stand there and chuckle and laugh at what was happening," said Tom Steenson, an attorney representing the Chasse family.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and the Portland Police Bureau, which both had officers involved in the incident, said they cannot address specifics of the case because of the investigation now under way, but said they are deeply saddened by what happened.

"The integrity of this uniform and the trust that is supposed to go with it are paramount to me and I know that for the people I work with, it's the same," said Lt. Jason Gates, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.

A Grand Jury will be reviewing the case.  Mayor Tom Potter also released a statement addressing whether there would be a public inquest:

"I have asked that the investigation into this incident be as public and transparent as possible, and that the community be given the information it needs to understand what happened as quickly as possible."

"There are several legal inquiries already under way to determine precisely what occurred during the arrest, including the possibility of a grand jury, and they each need to move forward as quickly as possible."

"Any request to conduct a public inquest into this death is a legal determination that only the District Attorney's Office can make, and we will respect whatever he decides and cooperate fully."

"Just as important to me is that we commit to creating a more effective system for delivering mental health services both before and after someone enters our criminal justice system."

"This is not an issue just for Portland Police, but rather one that calls for a solution that includes our correctional system, medical and mental health providers. I want to work with others who share these concerns to begin making real changes."