OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — With jury selection complete, the trial for former OPD Officer Scotty Payne surrounds the state of mind for Zachary Bear Heels before he died.
Bear Heels died on June 5, 2017 after a confrontation with Ofc. Payne and Ofc. Ryan McClarty outside the Bucky’s Gas Station on 60th & Center.
Video inside the police cruiser shows that Bear Heels was repeatedly punched, dragged, and tased while handcuffed. Authorities say he was tased 12 times and died of “Excited Delirium.”
Wednesday witnesses described Bear Heels’ actions before he had contact with police.
“It was animated it wasn’t angry but it seemed like a very involved conversation,” said witness Wayne Shaw.
Two witnesses testified Bear Heels was not threatening anyone.
Prosecutors also showed surveillance video from a bank near the gas station where Bear Heels was hanging out before going to Bucky’s.
Payne is charged with felony 2nd degree assault.
We’re at the trial for Fmr. OPD Officer Scotty Payne connected to the death of Zachary Bear Heels. Witness at the Bucky’s says Bear Heels, “Seemed to be having a conversation with nobody there.”@3NewsNowOmaha pic.twitter.com/LR4DIa2I28
— Jake Wasikowski (@jakewasikowski) November 28, 2018
Witness, Wayne Shaw, says Bear Heels was not so much of a threat he felt he needed to call 911. @3NewsNowOmaha
— Jake Wasikowski (@jakewasikowski) November 28, 2018
Another witness at Bucky’s , Todd Amberson says he saw Bear Heels sitting on the curb rocking and talking.
— Jake Wasikowski (@jakewasikowski) November 28, 2018
“It just sounded like somebody was going through something rough maybe internally,” Amberson explained.@3NewsNowOmaha
The jury is now watching surveillance video of Bear Heels’ behavior outside a bank near Aksarben before he encountered police. Seemingly is pacing round without a shirt and jumped toward a glass window.@3NewsNowOmaha pic.twitter.com/0npEFXtYcm
— Jake Wasikowski (@jakewasikowski) November 28, 2018
Here’s surveillance video of Bear Heels outside a bank near Aksarben. Later he goes to the Bucky’s and has contact with Fmr. Ofc. Scotty Payne.@3NewsNowOmaha pic.twitter.com/QLPN7n3LRm
— Jake Wasikowski (@jakewasikowski) November 28, 2018
