ISP Find No Indication Of Inappropriate Action By Police Personnel In Inmate's Death

Last updated on Wednesday, May 13, 2015

(FRANKLIN) - Authorities say a 19-year-old man died in police custody after being found unconscious in the back of a jail transport van taking him to a central Indiana hospital.

19-year-old Kyler L. Myers of Greenwood was taken to the hospital by order of the jail nurse. At that point, he was able to walk himself to the jail van that took him to the hospital, but two minutes later when they arrived at the hospital - which is next door to the jail - he was unresponsive.

He was rushed to the emergency room, but doctors weren't able to revive him. Myers was arrested early Monday morning at 2:30 a.m. for two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of disorderly conduct by the Greenwood Police Department.

State police are investigating how the inmate died. During Myers incarceration at the Johnson County Jail he reportedly became increasingly agitated with other inmates and displayed unusual behavior.

According to an Indiana State Police report, on Tuesday, an autopsy was performed by the Johnson County Coroner and the results were inconclusive. It was noted there was no trauma to the body. Toxicology results are expected to provide more information related to the cause and manner of death, but will take four to six weeks to complete.

The state police investigation, inclusive of the autopsy, will be submitted to the Johnson County Prosecutor for review and action as deemed appropriate by his office.

At this point of the ongoing investigation there is no indication of inappropriate action by personnel with the Greenwood Police or Johnson County Sheriff's Department.

Thus far the death investigation of Kyler Myers has determined the following:

At approximately 4:19 p.m. on May 10, 2015 officers from the Greenwood Police Department are dispatched to the residence of Mr. Myers on the report of a person running around in the yard naked
Greenwood officers arrive and knock on the door of the residence and are greeted by an unclothed man later identified as Mr. Myers. It is not illegal to be undressed in the privacy of a person's home and officers advise Mr. Myers to be dressed if he leaves his home
At approximately 2:30 a.m. on May 11, 2015 Greenwood PD receives a second call to the residence from Mr. Myers stating unauthorized persons are attempting to break into his home
Greenwood officers arrive and are asked by Mr. Myers to search his home for the unauthorized suspects. The officers find no one in the home but do observe drug paraphernalia over the course of being invited to search Mr. Myers' home. Mr. Myers was presently on house arrest and was arrested the result of finding the drug paraphernalia in his home
Mr. Myers is arrested for two counts of possession of paraphernalia and one count of disorderly conduct
His authorized house guest is cited on a summons for possession of paraphernalia
Based on Mr. Myers erratic behavior the Greenwood officers summon an EMT to the scene to evaluate Mr. Myers and are advised Mr. Myers can be taken to the Johnson Co. Jail
A Greenwood PD transport van responded to the residence and picked up Mr. Myers and picked up a second prisoner at the Community Hospital South and then transported both persons to the Johnson County Jail
At approximately 5:41 a.m. Mr. Myers arrives at the Johnson Co. Jail and is processed into the jail
While at the jail Mr. Myers exhibits erratic and aggressive behavior over the course of the morning
At approximately 11:40 a.m. Mr. Myers is evaluated by the Johnson Co. Jail Nurse who recommends he be taken to Johnson Memorial Hospital for evaluation
At approximately 12:09 p.m., under his own power, Mr. Myers boards a jail transport van for the trip across the street to Johnson Memorial Hospital
At approximately 12:12 p.m. the transport van arrives at Johnson Memorial Hospital and Mr. Myers is found unresponsive in the back of the transport vehicle. Efforts to revive Mr. Myers are unsuccessful and he is declared deceased

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