Thurston County man dies after being handcuffed by deputies Tuesday
A 55-year-old man died at his Lacey area home while in law enforcement custody on Tuesday.
The man died after Thurston County Sheriff’s deputies had put him in handcuffs, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.
Lacey firefighters initially responded to a “medical event” at the home on the 1200 block of Manito Drive Northeast near the Lacey Costco. Individuals at the residence reportedly told dispatchers the man was “acting erratically” and needed “medical attention.”
Due to his behavior, the firefighters requested help from the Sheriff’s Office. When deputies arrived, they handcuffed the man “without resistance,” according to the Sheriff’s Office release.
“This was done in an effort to ensure the safety of fire responders as well as others in the home,” the release says. “The man was seated and speaking with deputies while waiting for fire to arrive, but ultimately became unresponsive.”
Deputies reportedly uncuffed the man and started performing lifesaving measures, according to the release. Fire personnel then continued the measures, but he died at the scene.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office has taken the lead on investigating the incident, according to the release. The office is run by Sheriff Robert R. Snaza, an identical twin brother of Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza.
The release says the cause of death will be determined by the Thurston County Coroner’s Office.
This story was originally published April 13, 2022 at 7:48 AM.
