Eugene “Kim” Pitchford Jr.

Less-than-lethal force

Eugene K. Pitchford Jr., who was homeless and had a history of mental health issues, died of asphyxiation as three officers used a chokehold, pepper spray and nightsticks on him. Police had responded to a recycling center when an employee called saying that Pitchford became upset when he tried to turn in a bag of aluminum cans and was told the center was closed. Pitchford ran, and the officers chased and tackled him. During the ensuing struggle, Pitchford was pepper sprayed and repeatedly struck with a baton, according to police reports. A fourth officer helped handcuff Pitchford, who fell unconscious and died. A coroner's jury decided that Pitchford's death was accidental, but said it was impossible to tell what caused the death. "There's no way of proving what caused the asphyxia, whether it's from the weight of the officers or the agitation during the foot chase," Peoria County Coroner Dan Heinz said.