Investigator: Drowning accidental

Moncks Corner — An investigator in the delayed drowning death of 10-year-old Jon Jon Jackson said Friday he considered the death an accident.

But police investigator Patrick Cousino also said the death resulted from the actions of Saquan Meekins, who authorities believe used rough techniques to teach the autistic boy to swim in the hours before he died June 1.

Cousino later declined to elaborate on his comments as he left the courtroom.

Cousino's comments came during Meekins' preliminary, or probable cause, hearing at the Berkeley County Courthouse.

A magistrate declined a defense motion to toss out the case. Meekins, 22, remains in the Berkeley County jail on $50,000 bail.

Meekins was charged last month with homicide by child abuse. On June 1 he apparently was trying to teach the boy how to swim at the Branchwood Apartments pool in Goose Creek. His mother lived with the boy's mother.

The boy is believed to have died an hour after leaving the water, apparently after he inhaled water and drowned from fluid in his lungs. The delayed effect also is known as secondary drowning. Homicide by child abuse charges can be filed when there is an extreme indifference to a child's life, the Solicitor's Office has said.

Statements attributed to witnesses who were at the pool that day indicate they had concerns about the rough play and the boy's tired appearance. It was his first time swimming.

One witness said the boy sometimes fought to come up for air and that his head would be submerged, with nothing but his hands visible above the water.

The boy tried to cling to Meekins but he would be thrown back into the water where Meekins would wait "about 10-15 seconds to collect him," according to a police interview attributed to witness Kenneth Simmons.

Another witness, identified as Sara Pologruto, is quoted by police as saying there was a lack of recognition that the boy was struggling.

The boy went "under water for longer amounts of time than she thought a reasonable person would allow," according to her version recorded by authorities.

Meekins' lawyer, Mark Peper, argued that the case should be thrown out because there was a lack of probable cause that a crime occurred. "It is just flat-out an accident," he said.

Family members gave statements to police that said that after the swimming trip, Jon Jon walked with them and that he was sleepy and lay down for a nap.

When someone checked on the boy about an hour later, they found that his lips were blue and white foam was coming from his mouth. He was taken to Trident Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Since Meekins' arrest, the two mothers involved have defended him and his play with the child.