Autopsy awaited in death of woman who was pepper-sprayed by police

An investigation is underway into the death of a woman who was pepper-sprayed and then stopped breathing as she was arrested by North Las Vegas Police Wednesday.

Police do not believe that the woman died because of the three arresting officers' actions. An autopsy is still pending to determine the woman's cause of death.

About 1 p.m. Wednesday police were called to the intersection of Coleman Street and Gowan Road to find the woman coming out of a market carrying a bottle of water and a knife, wearing only a blouse. She was foaming at the mouth and mumbling, according to North Las Vegas Police Lt. Mike Blackwell.

Police got the woman to drop the knife, but she then picked up a rock and a small struggle ensued. The woman broke away and picked up another rock and the officers felt she was going to hit one of them, Blackwell said.

One of the officers then gave her a quick blast of pepper spray, but it had no effect. The officers gained control of the woman, but when paramedics arrived the woman had stopped breathing.

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital where she went into a coma before she died Thursday.

Authorities have confirmed that cocaine was in the woman's system, Blackwell said.

The three arresting officers, one male and two female, remain assigned to active duty.

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