Las Vegas man’s death in police custody ruled a homicide
The Clark County coroner’s office ruled Tuesday that a Las Vegas man’s death while in Las Vegas police custody was a homicide.
Reiner Sommer, 50, died on Oct. 18, 2021 from toxic effects of methamphetamine in the setting of police restraint. Other significant conditions were heart disease and obesity, according to the coroner’s office.
Police said in October that Sommer had a “medical episode” at a Walgreens on South Fort Apache Road, near Sunset Road. Firefighters who responded asked for police to assist with a man “acting erratic.”
When officers arrived, the man was “unresponsive to officers’ commands,” Metropolitan Police Department Capt. Carlos Hank said at the time.
While Sommer was being taken into custody he started to become combative with officers and resisted. He was placed in handcuffs and “during that time the subject became unresponsive,” Hank said.
Sommer was taken to Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center where he later died.
Metro Officer Aden Ocampo-Gomez said the department could not comment on the case until after the district attorney’s fact-finding review, which usually comes 18 months to two years after a police death.
Contact David Wilson at dwilson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @davidwilson_RJ on Twitter.
