Kent man dies in Pierce County Jail after reportedly ingesting white substance upon arrest



TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Pierce County authorities say a man died in the county jail's booking area hours after officers say he appeared to ingest a white substance as he was being arrested.

The News Tribune reports (http://is.gd/PEf1Tj ) that the county medical examiner's office identified the man who died Tuesday as 32-year-old Demetrius Dixon of Kent. No cause of death has been determined.

Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says, "We believe that he probably died of a self-inflicted drug overdose."

Lakewood police spokesman John Unfred says the man was pulled over early Tuesday for a malfunctioning brake light. Officers found marijuana, cocaine, prescription drugs and $3,500 in cash in the vehicle.

An officer thought Dixon swallowed an unknown white substance while being arrested. Dixon denied that, but police took him to a hospital, where staff cleared him. He was jailed for investigation of four counts of drug possession.

Troyer says the man was in a single cell when he died.