Suspect attempts suicide with seatbelt in patrol car
A man pulled over by police in Meridian with about 400 pounds of marijuana attempted suicide in the back of a patrol car, officials said.
Meridian police chief Benny DuBose said officers pulled over a U-haul on I-20 just before midnight Friday and during the course of the stop, a K-9 hit on the smell of drugs.
The U-haul and the driver were both transported to Meridian Police Department in order to allow officers to search the vehicle. While searching, they uncovered around 400 pounds of marijuana in the truck, DuBose said. Sources said it was hidden in a queen-sized box spring.
As authorities conducted the search, the driver, who officials believe is from around El Paso, Texas, was handcuffed and put in the back of the police vehicle, DuBose said.
Officers returned to the patrol car to find the suspect had freed one hand from the handcuffs and wrapped the seatbelt around his neck, apparently attempting suicide. The officers began CPR and called Metro Ambulance service. The suspect was eventually taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he is currently in unknown condition. His identity has not yet been released.
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesman Warren Strain confirmed that MBI is assisting in the investigation.
"In any type of in-custody death, we turn it over to an outside agency to remove all doubts," DuBose said. "MBI has the lead and we are cooperating with them."
The suspect's identity has not yet been released, DuBose said.
This is a developing story.
Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.