The World (Coos Bay, Oregon)
COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) -- A probe shows that a man who died of a gunshot wound during a scuffle with a Coquille police officer was killed accidentally by his own gun, according to the Coos County deputy district attorney.
R. Paul Frasier said Tuesday that 42-year-old Francois Manwell was armed with a derringer-type gun when Officer Eric Clove attempted to take him into custody outside a woman’s home on a trespassing complaint on Sunday. During the ensuing scuffle, the gun discharged and fatally wounded Manwell.
The Coos County Major Crimes Team is continuing the investigation, Frasier said.
Frasier said police were unaware of Manwell’s weapon, a single-shot pistol investigators found on the ground after the incident. Six .22-caliber bullets were found in the man’s clothing. He was not wearing a holster.
“I have no idea why he had a gun,” said Frasier, who added the weapon lacked a trigger guard and appeared to be of poor quality. “You can jostle it enough in your fingers and it’ll go off.”
Coquille Police placed Clove on paid leave after Manwell’s death.