An employee of a Denver topless bar was charged Wednesday with reckless manslaughter in the death of American Indian tribal leader Gabriel Pico.The charges allege that Diamond Cabaret bouncer Bryan Coe, 27, pinned Pico to the ground in a chokehold Aug. 30 and that his actions caused Pico’s death.
The Denver coroner’s office ruled two weeks ago that the death of 39-year-old Pico, of Temecula, Calif., was a homicide.
Pico, who was in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, died of injuries he suffered in the 2 a.m. scuffle Aug. 30 outside the Diamond Cabaret.
Pico was placed in a chokehold to restrain him, which cut off oxygen to his brain, according to an autopsy report by the Denver medical examiner.
Coe has been released on a $25,000 bond. He will appear in court to be advised of the charge Monday. Howard Pankratz, The Denver Post
