Omaha Stun Gun Death: Ex-officer's Bail Set At $25,000

OMAHA, NE — Bail is set at $25,000 for a former Omaha police officer charged with assault in the death of a mentally ill man who was shocked 12 times with a stun gun.

Scotty Payne appeared in an Omaha jailhouse courtroom Friday for his first hearing on the charge. He turned himself in just hours earlier.

Payne, who wore a yellow jail jumpsuit, can be released if he posts $2,500 of the bail. His preliminary hearing on the charge was set for Sept. 11. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Earlier this week, prosecutors announced charges against Payne and former officer Ryan McClarty in a June 5 altercation that led to the death of Zachary Bearheels, 29, at an Omaha convenience store.

Police cruiser video showed Payne using a stun gun on Bearheels 12 times and McClarty repeatedly punching Bearheels in the face. Some of the blows came after Bearheels was on the ground and not resisting.

Police have said Bearheels was acting erratically and fought officers' efforts to take him into custody. He was pronounced dead later at a hospital.

McClarty has been ticketed for misdemeanor assault in the case.

Photo credit: Omaha Police Department via AP; Nati Harnik/Associated Press