The death of a Berrien County Jail inmate in March has been ruled an accident by the Michigan State Police.
The autopsy report found that 48-year-old Douglas Lee Davis had a plastic baggie in his stomach.
Michigan State Police said that forensic pathology identified an unusually high amount of methamphetamine in his system.
The MSP investigation said that there was no criminal action by any law enforcement personnel over this incident and the full report was sent to the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigation found the following:
- A home security camera in the area showed Mr. Davis moving his right hand from his pocket to his mouth while running away from law enforcement officers.
- Body-worn camera and dash camera videos showed no instances of excessive force in the arrest of Mr. Davis.
- Body-worn camera and dash camera videos showed officers asking Mr. Davis’ if he had swallowed any drugs. Mr. Davis denied swallowing any drugs. In all interactions with Mr. Davis, prior to him being lodged in the jail, he showed no apparent signs of distress of any kind.
- After experiencing medical distress in the jail, Mr. Davis was again asked if he had swallowed any drugs. Mr. Davis nodded his head in the affirmative. Medical personnel from the Berrien County Jail were summoned immediately, as was an ambulance. Mr. Davis was immediately transported to Corewell-Lakeland Hospital by ambulance. Mr. Davis died in the hospital.
- An autopsy report revealed a small piece of a plastic baggie found in Mr. Davis’ stomach.
- Toxicology reports showed an unusually high amount of methamphetamine in Mr. Davis’ blood – 19,000 nanograms per milliliter.
Davis was in the jail for an active federal warrant for parole violation and three counts of delivery of methamphetamine.
The Berrien County Prosecutor said that no criminal charges will be issued in this incident.