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Mobile Police Department issues statement after man has ‘medical episode' in patrol car and later dies
UPDATE (June 11, 9.56 p.m.): The cause of death for the man who reportedly experienced a medical episode while in Mobile Police custody has not been confirmed, but officials say it may have been an overdose.
Police officers initiated a traffic stop for an equipment violation around 9:43 p.m. Saturday in the 6000 block of Old Pascagoula Road, according to an Mobile Police Department news release.
Both individuals inside the vehicle didn't have a current driver's license, so officers removed them from the automobile and placed them in patrol cars without restraints while waiting to confirm their identities, the release stated.
A man — identified as Kevin Gardner, 33 — reportedly began experiencing a medical episode, prompting a call to first responders. Theodore-Dawes Fire-Rescue and Mobile County EMS arrived on the scene, but efforts to revive him weren't successful, according to the release.
Theodore Dawes Fire Rescue Chief Franklin Byrd told News 5 Gardner was seizing, unresponsive and went into cardiac arrest. Narcan was administered, but Gardner died at the scene, News 5 learned.
The Gardner family attorney, Chalea Tisdale, questions why it was necessary to have placed the two individuals in the back of the police car.
'Why would they need to be put in a police car, especially the passenger,' Tisdale said. 'It's my understanding Kevin was the passenger in the car.'
The attorney and Gardner's family was never informed of what led to Gardner having a medical emergency.
'I would be curious to know how long was he in the police car in distress before it was noticed? How long did it take EMT to arrive? You know, just lots of normal questions that go through people's minds, you know, to try to figure out what happened,' Tisdale said.
Tisdale told News 5 that body camera video would answer a lot of unknowns.
'What I'm looking for is the events what led up to it,' she said. 'What may have been said or done and could it have been prevented.'
Police are still waiting to hear back from the autopsy and toxicology results.
'I never observed Kevin to be under the influence of anything,' Tisdale said.
Tisdale represented Gardner in a murder trial last month. It ended in a mistrial because the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
UPDATE (June 11, 4:10 p.m.): The Mobile Police Department has released a statement about a death investigation after a man reportedly had a medical emergency in a patrol car.
Police officers initiated a traffic stop for an equipment violation around 9:43 p.m. Saturday in the 6000 block of Old Pascagoula Road, according to an MPD news release.
Both individuals inside the vehicle didn't have a current driver's license, so officers removed them from the automobile and placed them in patrol cars without restraints while waiting to confirm their identities, the release stated.
A man — identified as Kevin Gardner, 33 — reportedly began experiencing a medical episode, prompting a call to first responders. Theodore-Dawes Fire-Rescue and Mobile County EMS arrived on the scene, but efforts to revive him weren't successful, according to the release.
'The officers who made the traffic stop Saturday night were not placed on administrative leave, as this was a medical emergency,' an MPD spokesperson said. 'At this time, it appears the officers followed protocol.
'It should be noted, medical personnel were working on Mr. Gardner outside of the MPD patrol unit for some time before he ultimately passed.'
The MPD is awaiting autopsy and toxicology results as the investigation progresses, the spokesperson said.
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MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — A man is dead after a traffic stop led to a visit in a patrol car and a medical episode, according to the Mobile Police Department.
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Police officers initiated a traffic stop for an equipment violation around 9:43 p.m. Saturday in the 6000 block of Old Pascagoula Road, according to an MPD news release.
Police stated that both individuals inside the vehicle were without a current driver's license.
Officers removed them from the vehicle, and the two people sat in the back of patrol units without restraints while waiting to confirm their identities, the release said.
One of the people seated in a patrol unit reportedly began experiencing a medical episode, prompting a call to first responders. Theodore-Dawes Fire-Rescue and Mobile County EMS arrived on the scene, according to the release.
Police said efforts to revive the man — identified as Kevin Gardner, 33 — were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead.
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The case is under active investigation, and no further information is available, police said.
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