Last updated 12:49PM ET
May 28, 2012
RIPR News
RIPR News
Judge doesn't fault Westerly police for man's death
(2012-02-02)
(RIPR) - A statewide grand jury has cleared the Westerly police department of any wrongdoing in the death of a man who succumbed to blunt force trauma hours after being arrested. But an attorney for the victim's family says he will proceed with a wrongful death lawsuit against the department.

34-year old Ryan O'Loughlin died of a lacerated liver caused by blunt force trauma, according to the Connecticut Medical Examiner's Office which ruled the death a homicide. He died 16 hours after Westerly police arrested him on a disorderly conduct charge. But a grand jury has declined to charge any of the officers involved, finding their actions legally justified.

Providence attorney Mark Dana, who represents O'Loughlin's family, remains convinced it's a case of police brutality.

"I don't know what facts could support this decision," Dana says. "I believe the officers struck him with their batons as they indicated. I believe that they didn't intend to kill but I believe the way they struck him and with the force they struck him his liver was lacerated."

A spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office declined comment, citing state law that imposes a gag rule on grand jury proceedings.

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