Moore Police Chief Breaks Silence After Weekend Death At Warren Theatres

The Moore Police Chief breaks his silence following an in-custody death over the weekend.

Tuesday, February 18th 2014, 9:58 pm

By: News 9


News 9 has been following a developing story out of Moore.

The Moore Police Chief breaks his silence following an in-custody death over the weekend. The family of Luis Rodriguez alleged police beat him so badly in the Warren Theatres parking lot, they couldn't recognize his face.

Rodriguez's family said he was murdered by Moore police in the parking lot. Moore Police said the accusations of police brutality aren't true and tell a much different story.

2/15/2014 Related Story: Family Says Moore Police Beat Father To Death

"Five police kill my husband," Nair Rodriguez said.

Nair Rodriguez, the widow of 44-year-old Luis Rodriguez, said five officers tackled her husband and then beat him after he tried settling an argument between her and their daughter.

"He was a man of God," said Nair. "A man that could fight for his life, but decided not to."

She said police approached him and asked for his ID. Police said he was uncooperative.

"At some point during the attempt to detain, pepper spray was used by an officer," said Moore Police Chief, Jerry Stillings. "There was no indication that batons or any other weapons were used at any other point."

"They pushed him to the ground, and that's when five guys got on top of him beating ruthlessly on the head, just pow, pow, pow. Even with knees," Luis Rodriguez's daughter, Lunahi, said.

Chief Stillings said his officers used as much force as necessary.

"I think this situation could have been resolved in a matter of a few minutes, and we could have gotten the information we needed," Stillings said.

2/17/2014 Related Story: Moore Family Fears Police Will Tamper With Deadly Incident Video

Rodriguez said she recorded the beating with her cell phone camera, but police confiscated the phone after the incident to be copied as part of the investigation. She has been advised by her lawyers not to release that video at this time.

"I didn't see anything inappropriate on the cell phone video," Stillings said.

"You could tell he was basically at the point of death," Lunahi said.

"They do not have the license to kill," said Nair. "They have the license to protect."

2/18/2014 Related Story: Moore Police Hold News Conference Concerning In-Custody Death

Three Moore officers are on paid administrative leave pending the investigation. A full investigation must be turned over to the Cleveland County District Attorney's office.

Moore police are asking any witnesses who were at Warren Theatres that night to come forward.

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