City police defend use of force
2002-06-18
By Ken Raymond
The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City police defended Monday the force used on a man who died Saturday after being sprayed with pepper
spray and shocked with an M-26 Taser.
Jason Nichols, 21, died at OU Medical Centershortly after he was dropped off there by police.
About 3 a.m. Saturday, Nichols confronted officers at a house in the 2100 block of NE 16 Terrace. Police were
called there by his uncle, Kevin Nichols, 41, who said his nephew was "drunk and fighting with him," a police
report said.
The 21-year-old would not comply with police orders, so he was sprayed in the face with pepper spray and zapped
with the Taser, a gun that fires electrical current, Sgt. Charles Phillips said.
"The officers' ... and witnesses' stories are consistent," Phillips said. "They did follow the use-of-force continuum,
but at best, all of their efforts were only momentarily successful."
Jason Nichols was "very noncompliant, very violent, very aggressive" and constantly "struggled against his
restraints," Phillips said.
The medical examiner's office has not yet ruled on the cause of death.

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Metro Man Dies After Being Arrested
Doctors Say Man Suffered Cardiac Arrest
Updated: 9:13 a.m. CDT June 17, 2002
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A man died Saturday morning shortly after being restrained and arrested by police.
Jason Nichols, 21, went into cardiac arrest five minutes after arriving at a hospital and later was pronounced dead,
police Capt. Jessica Cummins said.
Police responded to a domestic disturbance call about 3 a.m. after Nichols' uncle, Kevin Nichols, told dispatchers
that his nephew was drunk and fighting with him. The younger Nichols was still combative when officers arrived.
Cummins said Jason Nichols would not comply with the officers' commands and requests to settle down. They
eventually used tear gas and a Taser gun that allowed officers an opportunity to approach and restrain him.
Cummins said a "maximum restraint" device was placed on Nichols, controlling his arms and legs.
Paramedics checked Nichols at the scene, but due to his continuing combative behavior, an officer drove him to
Presbyterian Hospital for evaluation, Cummins said.
The state medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death and conduct toxicology tests to determine of
Nichols was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

EWSO COM
Police struggle ends with death
2002-06-16
By Robert Medley
The Oklahoman
A 21-year-old man died Saturday morning after a struggle with Oklahoma City Police.

Jason Nichols died at OU Medical Center after officers used the M-26 Taser, a gun that fires electrical
currents, and pepper spray to subdue him, according to a report released Saturday by Capt. Jessica Cummins of
the department's public information office.
According to the police report, Nichols' uncle, Kevin Nichols, 41, called about 3 a.m. Saturday to say that his
nephew was "drunk and fighting with him" at a house in the 2100 block of NE 16 Terrace.
When officers arrived, the report states, Jason Nichols would not comply with their commands to settle down. They
used pepper spray with no effect, police said. An officer then fired the Taser, hitting Nichols and stunning him but
not subduing him. However, officers were able to restrain his arms and legs with "maximum restraint devices,"
police said.
Cummins said officers used a hobble restraint, which attaches to the hands, feet and waist. Nichols continued to
resist arrest when paramedics arrived, so police took him to the hospital.
"Due to Jason Nichols' aggressive and combative behavior, and for the protection of paramedics, an officer, rather
than EMSA drove him to Presbyterian Hospital (OU Medical Center) for evaluation and any necessary medical
treatment," Cummins said.
About five minutes after arriving at the hospital, Nichols went into cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at 4:23
a.m., a hospital spokeswoman said.
Police said the medical examiner's office will determine an exact cause of death and conduct toxicology tests to
determine if Nichols was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
One of Nichols' relatives, who said Saturday she did not witness the fight, described him as a friendly and happy
man.
"We don't know anything about what happened. We're just trying to figure it all out," the woman said before starting
to cry.
She said Nichols was popular and well-liked by friends.
"Jason was a sweet kid, he was real happy and sweet, friendly." She asked that her name not be published.

Man dies shortly after being arrested
2002-06-15
By The Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK - A man died Saturday morning shortly after being restrained and arrested by police.
Jason Nichols, 21, went into cardiac arrest five minutes after arriving at a hospital and later was pronounced dead,
police Capt. Jessica Cummins said.
Police responded to a domestic disturbance call about 3 a.m. after Nichols' uncle, Kevin Nichols, told dispatchers
that his nephew was drunk and fighting with him. The younger Nichols was still combative when officers arrived.
Cummins said Jason Nichols would not comply with the officers' commands and requests to settle down. They
eventually used tear gas and a Taser gun that allowed officers an opportunity to approach and restrain him.
Cummins said a "maximum restraint" device was placed on Nichols, controlling his arms and legs.
Paramedics checked Nichols at the scene, but due to his continuing combative behavior, an officer drove him to
Presbyterian Hospital for evaluation, Cummins said.
The state Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death and conduct toxicology tests to determine of
Nichols was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Man Dies Shortly After Being Arrested June 16, 2002 1:50am
Oklahoma City (AP) - The state medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death of a man who died
shortly after being arrested by Oklahoma City police.
Twenty-one-year-old James Nichols was arrested about 3 o'clock this morning after police responded to a domestic
disturbance call in northeast Oklahoma City.
Captain Jessica Cummins says Nichols didn't comply with officers' commands and requests to settle down. They
eventually used tear gas and a Taser gun to try to get him under control.

Due to Nichols' aggressive behavior and to protect paramedics, an officer drove Nichols to a hospital for evaluation.
About five minutes after arriving at the hospital, he went into cardiac arrest and died.

6/15/02
Oklahoma City's only Nine O'Clock News
MAN DIES AFTER ALTERCATION WITH POLICE
A 21 year-old man is dead following a struggle with police. Police were called to a north east side home on a
domestic disturbance around 3:00AM. That’s where they found Jason Nichols fighting with his uncle. Police used OC
gas on the man, but were forced to shoot him with a TASER gun. The sound woke neighbors. The electric shock
was enough to restrain Nichols. Because of his violence, paramedics decided it was best that an officer drive Nichols
to the hospital to get checked out. Five minutes after arrival, Nichols died of a heart attack. Medical Examiners
examiners will determine his exact cause of death.