WAVERLY, Ohio — A man died Sunday night after being arrested in Pike County.
Alan Walsh, 36, called 9-1-1 asking for medics to come to his house and treat him for an unknown medical issue, according to the Waverly Police Department.
“A Waverly police officer responded to the scene and interacted with Mr. Walsh,” said village police chief John Winfield. A foot chase ensued between Walsh and the officer, the chief said.
“Walsh reportedly entered a neighbor’s residence and was encountered by police, where he was taken into custody.”
Winfield said Walsh was taken to the local hospital and later, transported to Riverside Medical Center in Columbus where he died. The initial medical issue Walsh claimed to have been experiencing when he called 9-1-1 was not released.
Winfield called Ohio’s Attorney General to investigate the arrest and death, who sent the state’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to investigate. Winfield said the reason is to see if the death was related to anything from the foot chase and arrest of Walsh, or if he died from something else.
An autopsy was conducted at the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, but the results are pending, according to officials.
Winfield would not comment on Tuesday if the officer involved is on paid leave, if they violated department policy, or what the nature of the original medical call was.
“I can’t comment. Everything is being looked into by BCI to find out exactly what happened.”
The chief said that the department is not jumping to conclusions and that the facts will determine the outcome.
BCI would not release a comment and said they do not confirm or deny the existence of investigations.