HICKORY, N.C. — An investigation is underway and two officers have been placed on administrative duty after a man died while in police custody on February 17th in Hickory.
Officers say they were called to the Red Roof Inn on Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard SE around 10:30am in reference to a man who was in possession of meth and a gun. When officers arrived on the scene they saw an assault rifle in a white vehicle that was unoccupied, according to a news release.
A short time later, officers returned to the vehicle after they canvassed several hotel rooms. That’s when they say a man and woman were standing next to the white vehicle.
The man reportedly struck an officer and attempted to run away. Officers say they pursued and attempted to take the man into custody. During that time, police say an officer deployed a Taser. After a struggle to get the man into custody, police say the man became unresponsive.
Officers immediately began CPR and called for local EMS, according to a news release. The man was pronounced dead on the scene a short time later by EMS. He has been identified as 41-year-old Matthew Saunders of Lincolnton.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to conduct an independent investigation. The officers involved have been identified as Master Police Officer Landen Whitener and Police Officer Alex Weaver. Both have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard procedure.
Police say it was later determined that Saunders was wanted by the U.S. Marshall Service as a federal probation absconder.
Britton Metcalf, 32, of Morganton, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. No other information has been released at this time.
