Coroner Cites Contributing Health Factors For Suspect's Death While In Police Custody

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The Sacramento County Coroner's office has released the cause of death for a suspect who died while restrained in the back of a Sacramento Police patrol car.

The coroner says Tyrone Smith's cause of death is "sudden death in police custody while lying in prone restraint on back seat of patrol car following foot pursuit."

Smith died after being taken into custody near the scene of a shooting that nearly killed a 25-year-old rookie Twin Rivers Police officer on Oct. 22.  

<<READ: Coroner's Autopsy Report on Tyrone Smith

Although the coroner is still classifying Smith's manner of death as "undetermined," the report does say his death was caused by a combination of factors including his physical exertion at the time of his arrest and his pre-existing medical conditions, which included asthmatic bronchitis, obesity, high blood pressure, mild heart disease and an unspecified psychiatric illness.

Smith was also found with marijuana, caffeine and nicotine in his system.

Sacramento Police officers were transporting him to police headquarters on Freeport Boulevard just after 11:30 p.m. when they noticed the handcuffed suspect was lying face down and was unresponsive.

The coroner believes the physical exertion of running from police may have triggered his asthma, making it even more difficult to breathe, creating a buildup of carbon dioxide in his system, which caused him to pass out. The report also says his heart disease and marijuana use could have increased his chance of a heart attack.