L.I. Cops: Suspect Dies After Swallowing Drugs During Arrest
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- A Long Island man who was being apprehended by police died after authorities say he swallowed what appeared to be crack or cocaine and went into cardiac arrest.
Newsday reports that police say they witnessed 43-year-old Benjamin Jackson involved in a possible drug deal early Sunday and approached him on Planders Avenue in Uniondale.
The newspaper says officers heard a crunching noise and saw Jackson spit out the suspected drug. The officers placed Jackson in handcuffs and called an ambulance.
Police say Jackson went into cardiac arrest before the ambulance arrived. The officers performed CPR and regained a pulse, but Jackson was later pronounced dead at Nassau University Medical Center.
Newsday says Jackson's family and friends declined to comment Sunday.
The medical examiner's report is pending.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
