Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 9, 1995 TAG: 9508090064
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The patrol wagon is used when a suspect is "being disorderly or trying to harm himself," Hooper said. "Subsequent to his arrest he was disorderly. ... He was unruly up until about five minutes before they checked on him."
Police arrested Randy Justin Edwards about 4 a.m. Monday, after responding to a report of a burglary in progress at the Wonder Drug Store at 1224 Jamison Ave. S.E. Officers found Edwards, 19, standing by some broken glass with a cash box at his feet and blood on his hands.
He was handcuffed and placed in a police cruiser and became uncontrollable, according to Hooper and witnesses at the scene.
"He was very foul-mouthed and unruly," said Gerlene Sizer, an employee of Wonder Drug's alarm company, National Guardian. Sizer was dispatched to the scene and watched police handle Edwards and investigate the crime.
"He wanted to tear up the police car," Sizer said. "He sat there for a good little while before he did much. Then he began kicking, thrashing, using curse words."
Sizer said Edwards kept saying he was innocent.
Shortly after 5 a.m., officers placed Edwards in the back of a patrol wagon. Sizer said Edwards' hands were cuffed behind his back as he was placed in the enclosed section, which is about 4 feet high
Edwards continued to curse and began banging on the walls, witnesses said.
"The police officers did absolutely nothing to cause him to behave the way he did," Sizer said. "I was just real proud of their professionalism."
Edwards, who stood about 5-foot-2 and weighed about 120 pounds, apparently was able to step through his cuffed hands so they were in front of him.
About 5:30 a.m., just before leaving for the Roanoke City Jail, an officer discovered Edwards had hanged himself from a bar by one of his sneaker shoelaces. Officers attempted to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful.
Rescue workers arrived at 5:36 a.m. and pronounced him dead, according to Roanoke EMS Manager Wanda Reed. Tuesday, an autopsy confirmed that Edwards died from hanging. Toxicology reports are pending.
An investigation into the burglary continues.
Police are evaluating whether modifications need to be made to their patrol wagon.
No internal investigation will be done because there is no indication that any law or police policy was violated, Hooper said.
"My concern is to do everything and anything reasonable to avoid this in the future," he added.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB