BAKERSFIELD — A 27-year-old Oildale man died on Saturday while be transported to a downtown jail shortly after being taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies.
Thomas Smoot was pronounced dead at around 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 21, at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. An autopsy is scheduled this week to determine cause and manner of death.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were dispatched at about 6:30 a.m. to a home in the 600 block of Francis Street in Oildale where multiple parties reported that Smoot has been running around yelling for help.At least one of the reporting parties said they also observed Smoot rolling around in one of the neighbor’s front yards where he was reported to have been doing push-ups.
A few minutes later a deputy arrived on scene and arrested Smoot, who he said appeared to have been under the influence of alcohol and narcotics.
While being transported to jail, Sheriff’s Lt. Dean Marshall said Smoot became unresponsive.
“The deputy pulled over his patrol car in the 800 block of North Chester Avenue and began performing basic life support procedures,” said Marshall.Medical aid arrived shortly after and Smoot was transported to Memorial Hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead by emergency room staff.
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Californian: Bakersfield man dies en route to jail
KBAK: Man dies while in custody
Bakersfield suspect dies in custody was last modified: January 14th, 2019 by
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