Men, subdued by police and died, identified

The man who died Wednesday after being restrained by the neck by Las Vegas police is 29-year-old Dustin Boone, the Clark County coroner's office said Friday.

Boone, of Las Vegas, was one of two men who died this week after being subdued by officers with the Metropolitan Police Department. The other, 47-year-old Daniel Morantes, died Sunday.

The coroner's office hasn't determined yet the cause and manner of their deaths. Weapons were not used by police in the separate incidents.

The manner of death must be a homicide for an inquest to be convened, Clark County Coroner Michael Murphy said.

Police said both men were "heavy set" and had underlying medical conditions which might have contributed to their deaths. Police said both were combative.

The Metropolitan Police Department on Friday released the names of two sergeants and seven officers from both incidents who were placed on paid administrative leave as an internal investigation takes place. The officers in Wednesday's incident are officers Michael Rowley, 32; Kevin Koval, 32, and Jerry Ybarra, 32. Sgt Mike Dailey, 53, was also placed on leave.

Dailey has been with the department since 1984. The officers were hired between 2000 and 2002.

The officers in Sunday's incident are Shane Black, 27; Steve Morris, 39; Matthew Eschker, 24 and Elvin-Ron Valle, 31.

Sgt. Bryan Miller, 41, was also placed on leave. Miller has been with the department since 1996. The officers were hired between 2006 and 2007.

Capt. Randy Montandon said a social worker called police Wednesday because Boone had been erratic and not taking his medications. Police arrived at Boone's home at 6:20 p.m. at 7740 Scoby Court, near Tropicana Avenue and Buffalo Drive.

Police were told Boone had opened gas lines in his house. They negotiated with Boone for about an hour before several officers went around the house and found an unlocked door, police said.

Once inside, the officers and the man had a "physical altercation." An officer used a technique known as a lateral vascular neck restraint to subdue and handcuff him, Montandon said.

The technique is taught to officers as a means of subduing subjects, he said. It appears similar to a choke hold, but unlike the choke hold, which cuts off oxygen, the technique constricts the carotid artery, restricts blood flow to the brain and is meant to cause a person to pass out.

Medical units, that had been standing by, noticed Boone stopped breathing. He died after he was taken to the hospital.

In Sunday's incident, Morantes was visiting a friend at an apartment at 500 N. 14th Street, south of Bonanza Road, when police responded at 6:20 p.m. to a call about a fight. They believed Morantes had a knife.

Police said they took Morantes to the front of a patrol car and began patting him down. "Immediately upon that, the individual became erratic, making loud noises and flailing about," Montandon said.

One officer grabbed Morantes in a hug and the two fell to the ground. Other officers grabbed his legs and arms and handcuffed him. Medical units were called.

They found Morantes had stopped breathing. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police did not find a knife on him.

Review-Journal writer Maggie Lillis contributed to this report. Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.