Tupelo man dies following police interaction

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)- A man in Tupelo dies after an interaction with police officers.

Around 7:40 Sunday night, law enforcement arrived at Motel 6 on East Main for a call about a man damaging a room.

Reports say officers arrived and noticed through the window that the man was lying on the floor and blocking the door.

Less than ten minutes after entering the room, the officers handcuffed the man while he was on the ground following a short struggle.

Shortly after, police say the man was unwilling to get in the patrol car so officers placed him in a seated position – leaning on the vehicles.

Law enforcement called for paramedics before placing the man in the car.

Officers also began chest compressions and used an AED on the man.

Fire department personnel arrived soon after and administered a second dose of Narcan.

The man was taken by ambulance to North Mississippi Medical Center.

Around 10 PM, Tupelo Police received word that the man had died.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident.

TPD says the only force that was used by officers was the force necessary to stop the man’s kicking and handcuffing him.

Below is a press release from Tupelo Police related to the incident:

“Tupelo Police Department

Press Release

——For Immediate Release—–

12-06-2021

Death Investigation

On 12-04-2021 at approximately 7:37 pm Tupelo Police were dispatched to 767 East Main (Motel 6) for a male subject damaging a room. During that interaction with officers the adult male subject became unresponsive. Immediate medical aid was given by officers and arriving medics. The male was transported to NMMC ER where he later was pronounced deceased.

TPD conducts detailed investigations of these type incidents. We are still in the early stages of this investigation and our understanding of the incident may change as additional evidence is collected, analyzed and reviewed. We do not draw final conclusions until all the facts are known and our investigation is complete. We invite anyone with additional information to contact TPD at 662-841-6491. Below are events as we currently understand them. All times are approximate and based on Body Worn Camera footage.

• 07:41:00 pm: Upon initial arrival first officer observed the Motel manager attempting to open a room door and a male subject could be seen through the window lying on floor blocking the door.
• 07:46:00 pm: Back up officer arrived on scene.
• 07:47:40 pm: Motel Manager gives permission to breach door.
• 07:48:09 pm: Entry was made into the room and the male was detained after a short struggle where subject kicked at officers and was held prone on his stomach by officers as they attempted to pull his hands behind his back for handcuffing.
• 07:49:26 pm: Handcuffing behind back complete.
• 07:50:09 pm: Officers attempted to place subject in patrol car.
• 07:51:54 pm: Subject will not cooperate so he is placed on ground in sitting position leaning on patrol car and medics are called.
• 07:52:57 pm: Subject has calmed down and officers again try to place him in the patrol car.
• 07:53:20 pm: Officers finish placing subject in patrol car lying on his back across seat.
• 07:57:08 pm: Officers ask E911 for medics estimated time of arrival.
• 07:57:15 pm: E911 advised officers that their request was in the “que” but that no medics were in route yet.
• 07:58:30 pm: Offices have noticed subject has lost consciousness and radio E911 to “step up” response and that there is a possible overdose.
• 07:59:08 pm: Officers remove subject from vehicle and place him flat on ground on his back.
• 07:59:43 pm: Officers administer first dose of Narcan.
• 08:00:00 pm: Officers began chest compressions.
• 08:03:20 pm: Officers apply Automatic External Defibrillator to subject and continue chest compressions as directed.
• 08:06:23 pm: Tupelo Fire Department arrives and begins first aid.
• 08:07:51 pm: Tupelo Fire Department administers the second dose of Narcan.
• 08:10:38 pm: EMS arrives and subject is placed on gurney for transport to ER.

At approximately 08:50 pm Tupelo Officers followed up on subjects’ condition with NMMC ER and emergency care was still being given. At approximately 10:00 pm TPD was advised that the subject had died.

Upon learning of a death TPD asked that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) be contacted to review the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. We will be cooperating with MBI in their investigation as we conduct our own internal review.

As stated above TPD conducts detailed investigations of these type incidents. We can release that the only force that was used on the subject was that force necessary to stop his kicking and to pull his hands behind his back; primarily holding him down with officer’s body weight while handcuffing was completed. No holds or tactics were used on or around his head or neck. This timeline and update is being released to maintain TPD’s pledge of transparency with our community. Any additional information will be released when appropriate either by MBI or TPD.

“I have great confidence in the actions of our officers as well as deep respect for the trust that our community puts in our department. Immediately upon learning of this incident I asked that an outside agency review the situation. It is my hope that the release of this information and time line will help the community understand the events as we understand them at this time. The tragedy of this incident is not lost on any us and I extend my condolences to the family and friends of the man who died” Chief Jackie Clayton.”