Investigation into officerinvolved death awaits autopsy

Review largely complete; DA asks for patience

The Beaver County district attorney said Thursday that investigators have largely completed their review of the death of a man after an incident with a Center Township police officer but are still awaiting final autopsy results.

An attorney for the family of Kenneth Vinyard, 46, has said he died when he was going to the aid of a gunshot victim and the officer pushed him away, causing him to strike his head Nov. 6 in the parking lot of the Walmart in Monaca. The attorney, Joel Sansone, said the officer was in plain clothes and he did not identify him.

District Attorney David Lozier said in a press release that speculation about the case has “run rampant” although he didn’t elaborate, so he wanted to assure the public that the investigation was proceeding as normal for such incidents.

He said state police are the main investigators and that family members and witnesses have been interviewed, evidence has been

collected and reports have been written. The officer has been placed on administrative leave and will not return to regular duty as the case is pending. Mr. Lozier said he would not identify the officer. The DA said they are still waiting for toxicology reports and a cause and manner of death ruling following the autopsy of Vinyard, whose name was given as Vineyard in some early reports. Mr. Lozier cautioned that such reports often take six to eight weeks, adding, “This is not television.”

He also said the family had hired its own forensic specialist to review the autopsy, which he welcomed.

He concluded by asking the community to be patient.