Christopher Wilson was not Tased, struck or hit with any lethal or non-lethal weapon when he ran from narcotics officers last week, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office released more information about Wilson’s death today. Wilson died in a South Carolina hospital after his arrest.
On June 27, narcotics officers with the county were responding to complaints about drug activity in the Baldwin Circle area when they initiated a traffic stop, the CCSO said in a press release. Wilson was a passenger in the vehicle, and he ran from the scene.
Wilson fled on foot down Virgil Street to Maultsby Lane, where he was detained by responding officers. Officers found two knives, plastic bags with drug residue, and narcotics on his person. The sheriff’s office did not specify how much or what kind of drugs he was carrying.
As he was being handcuffed, Wilson began complaining about feeling hot and sick. He was placed in an air conditioned vehicle, but within minutes agents were calling for an ambulance.
Wilson was given Narcan twice to prevent an overdose, the sheriff’s office said. Agents were performing CPR in him when an ambulance arrived. He was taken to Columbus Regional, then airlifted to South Carolina. Wilson died the next day. The sheriff’s office had no details about Wilson’s medical condition, or whether an autopsy had been performed.
The officers chasing Wilson did not use their Tasers or weapons of any kind, the CCSO statement said.
Wilson was well-known to local law enforcement, having been arrested several times on drug and related charges as far back as 2005.
In the statement, the CCSO said Sheriff Jody Greene and District Attorney Jon David met with the family.
“Out of respect for them no other information will be released other than what has already been released as a matter of public record,” the statement said.
