Chattanooga police rule arrest death 'accidental'

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Two investigations concluded the death of a man who scuffled with four police officers after he ran naked on a downtown street was "accidental," police chief Steve Parks said Tuesday.

Loretta Prater of Cape Girardeau disagreed, saying the death of her son, Leslie Vaughn Prater, was "absolutely murder." She is dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Southeast Missouri State University.

Leslie Prater, 37, died Jan. 2 when he was wrestled to the ground by officers.

A medical examiner's report released in April said Leslie Prater died from "positional asphyxia," with contributing factors of acute alcohol and cocaine intoxication, a heart condition and mild obesity.

In addition to fractured ribs and a dislocated shoulder joint with a fracture, the 5-foot-11, 232-pound Prater suffered abrasions and "acute hemorrhage of the pubic and lower abdominal wall soft tissues and scrotal sac, consistent with blunt trauma impact," according to the report.

Parks said the death was "classified as accidental" after District Attorney Bill Cox reviewed investigation reports by his department's major crimes division and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Parks said he met with Leslie Prater's parents before a Tuesday news conference.

"I think we respectfully disagree," Parks said. The chief described the death as "an unfortunate and tragic incident."

Prater's mother and father, Dwight Prater, said outside the police station that the chief denied them access to the news conference.

"We were told we could wait outside," Loretta Prater said.

"How do you accidentally die from all those injuries?" she said while holding a family photograph marked with the words, "The Lord Giveth, the police taketh away."

"These are killers in blue uniforms," she said.

Prater's mother said she still could not explain why her son ran naked and fought the officers. Police also have not speculated on what prompted Prater's actions that night.