Autopsy Reports in-Custody Death of Mich. Man as Accidental  

On Wednesday the Kalamazoo, Mich., Public Safety Department released an update of its investigation into the death of James Dunigan, who died in custody 90 minutes after being arrested in the emergency room at Bronson Methodist Hospital, WWMT reports. Suggested Reading The Root 100 – 2021 The Root 100 – 2022 The Root 100 –…

On Wednesday the Kalamazoo, Mich., Public Safety Department released an update of its investigation into the death of James Dunigan, who died in custody 90 minutes after being arrested in the emergency room at Bronson Methodist Hospital, WWMT reports.

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Dunigan had been admitted to the ER at 2:13 a.m. for treatment of chest pains.

According to police, Dunigan was released at 4:29 a.m. but refused to leave the hospital. He was arrested around 6 a.m. for trespassing. About an hour and a half later, Dunigan was pronounced dead.

The Kalamazoo County medical examiner ruled Dunigan's death accidental and listed the causes of death as "[h]ypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and end stage renal disease complicated by acute intoxication by the combined effects of hydrocodone, diphenhydramine, ephedrine and gabapentin."

According to WWMT, however, the two officers involved in Dunigan's arrest still received a one-day suspension for "policy violation relative to prisoner medical attention."

The Public Safety Department emphasized that "the officers should have recognized Mr. Dunigan's condition and sought medical treatment."

Read more at WWMT.

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