Charles McKeehan

Less-than-lethal force

Charles McKeehan died in a scuffle with four deputies on the side of a road in a remote area south of Joplin. McKeehan had been on a fishing trip with his mother, sister and friend earlier that day. McKeehan and his friend left in a car, then got into an argument which ended with his friend leaving him behind. Sheriff Ron Doerge, who was driving in the area, saw McKeehan and called his deputies. "He was doing something odd. He was on all fours shaking his head," Doerge said. "Apparently he had run in some 90-degree weather, possibly two or more miles." When deputies arrived, there was reportedly a short scuffle during which mace, nunchucks and a baton were used to subdue McKeehan, who bit a deputy's finger and wouldn't let go despite being hit in the head. As deputies handcuffed McKeehan, he became unconscious. McKeehan was pronounced dead at a hospital. The cause of death was eventually determined to be the result of a heart attack brought on by exertion and "methamphetamine induced paranoia." The deputies were cleared in McKeehan's death.