ARRESTED MAN'S DEATH LINKED TO EXERTION, DRUGS

The death of a man who led law officers on a car and foot chase in
August and then died shortly after being taken into custody resulted
from heartbeat irregularity due to the toxic effect of cocaine and
physical exertion, a medical examiner's report says.

The report, released Monday, indicates that the manner of death was
accidental and that the sickle cell trait was a contributing cause.

Justin H. Smith, 24, was pronounced dead at 12:37 a.m. Aug. 15 at
Hillcrest Medical Center following his arrest late Aug. 14, reports
said. Initial tests at the hospital indicated that he had cocaine and
marijuana in his system, authorities have said.

Deputies tried to stop Smith's car in the 4900 block of East 56th
Street North because its bright lights were on, reports indicate.
Smith did not stop, and a chase ensued.

Smith crashed his car through the gates of the Apache Manor apartment
complex in the 2500 block of North Marion Avenue and tried to run over
the deputies when they got out of their patrol cars, deputies had
said. A security guard shot at the car.

Smith later ran his car into a house in the 4000 block of East Woodrow
Place and reportedly ran from deputies. He was found and arrested.

While handcuffed in a patrol car, Smith began to have a medical
problem. A deputy performed CPR on him, and he was taken by ambulance
to Hillcrest, where he was pronounced dead approximately 45 minutes
later, the police report said.

The autopsy report said hospital personnel noted that Smith had
substantial hyperthermia, and his legs were rigid the entire time.

Various medical publications refer to "exited delirium" or "cocaine
psychosis," which can result in death, the report said. These deaths
have been described as occurring, as in this case, suddenly and
following vigorous physical exertion with the presence of cocaine and
oth er drug intoxications.

"The circumstances surrounding the death and the physical findings
both at autopsy and as noted at the hospital (hyperthermia and
muscular rigidity) are consistent with similar phenomena described in
the forensic pathology literature," the report summary said.

Smith's cause of death is considered to be sudden cardiac dysrhythmia
resulting from acute cocaine intoxication and the vigorous physical
exertion related to his apprehension and arrest. It is considered that
the sickle cell trait was a contributing factor, the report said.

Nicole Marshall can be reached at 581-8459.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry