Ex-Omaha officer to stand trial next year for assault
The Associated Press and the Omaha World-Herald - April 22, 2018 8:59 am
(Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com)
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A former Omaha police officer charged with misdemeanor assault for his role in the stun gun-related death of a mentally ill Oklahoma man last year will stand trial next year.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that 27-year-old Ryan McClarty will stand trial in January for a count of third-degree assault in the June confrontation at an Omaha convenience store with 29-year-old Zachary Bearheels. Bearheels was pronounced dead after the incident.
McClarty and another officer, Scotty Payne, were both fired and charged after police video showed Payne stunning Bearheels a dozen times and McClarty repeatedly punching Bearheels after he was already on the ground. Bearheels died shortly after the confrontation.
Payne, who has pleaded not guilty to felony assault, is set to stand trial on Nov. 26.
