County to delay coroner’s inquest until new ordinance in place

By Erin Dostal

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010 | 12:57 p.m.

A coroner’s inquest into the August death of a man who was tased by Nevada Highway Patrol troopers has been postponed until a county ordinance revising the inquest process goes into effect.

Originally, the case of Eduardo Lopez-Hernandez was set to be heard Dec. 16. A new date has not yet been, county officials said.

Lopez-Hernandez died Aug. 25 at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center shortly after being tased during a traffic stop on U.S. 95. near Charleston Boulevard.

Highway patrol officials, at the time of the incident, said Lopez-Hernandez had been driving erratically, and had struck at least one other vehicle before being pulled over. When Lopez-Hernandez got out of his car, he became violent with troopers, prompting the troopers to use a Taser, he said.

The inquest changes, approved by a 4-2 vote Tuesday by the Clark County Commission, will include allowing an ombudsperson to represent the deceased person’s family during hearings.

The changes also include calling the “jury” the “inquest panel.”