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Man dies after trying to swallow drugs in Harford jail
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Harford County (Map, News) - An autopsy conducted Saturday didn’t reveal any official cause or manner of death for the Bel Air man who tried to hide cocaine by swallowing it at the Harford County Detention Center on Friday night, police said.
Corrections officers were searching Justin Eugene Bolden, 25, in a bathroom at the detention center around 9:20 p.m. when he began to resist and try to swallow several small plastic bags containing 15 grams of cocaine, said Sgt. David Betz, a spokesman for the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
A stun device was then used to get Bolden to comply with orders, he added.
The cocaine apparently obstructed Bolden’s airway, and officers and two nurses at the detention center then attempted the Heimlich maneuver, Betz said.
After the maneuver, Bolden kicked one of the deputies in the groin, forcing officers to get him under control. In the process, Bolden suffered a laceration to his head.
An ambulance took Bolden to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 10 p.m.
Officially, the Saturday autopsy didn’t reveal a cause of death, but examiners said the head injury was not a contributing factor, Betz said. An upcoming test will determine whether the electrical pulse from the stun device could have factored in the death.
“He had an obstruction in his airway,” Betz said Sunday. “That’s why he went to the hospital.”
Authorities said they would like to know when exactly he placed the cocaine in his mouth because nobody saw him do this. A value for the cocaine has not yet been determined, officials said.
Bolden, 25, was arrested around 8:15 at a Wawa in Street, charged with violating probation.
He had been arrested two weeks ago and charged with kidnapping and beating Wardell Brooks in a dispute over the sale of a truck, but was released May 24 on $50,000 bail, according to court records.
Bolden’s father, 48-year-old Johnny Bolden, of Aberdeen, is being held on $200,000 bail after police said he held a knife to Brooks’ throat during the alleged kidnapping.
Justin Bolden’s brother, Reginald Leon Bolden, 24, was being sought by police on attempted murder charges after an unrelated shooting outside the Waffle House in Belcamp on May 24.
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10:56 AM MST on Sun., Jun. 8, 2008 re: "Man dies after trying to swallow drugs in Harford jail"
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Examiner Reader said:
Plain and simple, the young man was murdered. Even if he were swallowing drugs, which I doubt considering the track record with the police departments, he was tassered and he had a gaping wound to his head. And of course he fought. Wouldn't you fight for your life? Why are there surveillance cameras everywhere except for places where people are involuntarily restrained?
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arnold said:
when is it policy for officers to use stun gun/tasers on detainees that does not comply with instructions, sounds like he was being choked instead of the heimlich manuver, which is done from the rear making it almost impossible to be kicked in the groin. furthermore, all detainees are supposed to search prior to going to any bathroom during the prebooking process. therefore no searches should be allowed in a restroom. prior to the use of any force being used on a detainee it should be recorded where is the tape.
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Examiner Reader said:
The reason they referenced his father/brother is because their kidnapping of another adult was a major local news story and the reason this person was in arrested. They also used the stun gun to get him to respond to the command of don't swallow the drugs. IF they didn't use force and he died of a drug overdose the officers would be held responsible. From what I've read of this guy, I say good riddence!
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Jason said:
Why would they stun a man trying to swallow something?? Are they going to look in to this as a contributing factor in his death??
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Jessica Ward said:
The point of displaying information on the father and brother has nothing to do with the situation at hand. This is just diversion of facts and what probably really happened to that young man, if his history is as serious as they portray he would not have tried to swallow those bags. Come on. The story does not make sense, and that put extra info for people like you. Read the story again. The Police do this all the time. It is called crooked cops. Please watch the news more often and you will know.
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Examiner Reader said:
So funny how your turning this into a "if he were white" situation...The guy is a life criminal, who, lets be honest would have cost the state thousands of tax payers $$ being in and out of the system...We should almost be thankful that someone who sells drugs is no longer with us...On the other note, I read the article and I didnt notice a race indicated...but good call lets just assume he's black (sarcasim). Imagine if he sold drugs to your kid...is this a guy we should really feel sorry for??
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Jessica Ward said:
I do not understand why when a black male/female are arrested their whole life history has to be put on blast. The history of arrest for this young man and his father has nothing to do with his arrest now. Reporters always try to make a violent connection. On the other hand when it is an white individual their excuse or history is a broken family or history of psych issues. This has become a pattern I notice. Can someone explain why
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Examiner Reader said:
Deputies probably planted the drugs on him and wrote it up like he was bringing them in...
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concerned said:
Where is Jansen Robinson and the Edgewood Community Council screaming about police brutality? Are they finally getting the picture that "stop snitching" policies hurt all.
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