Albany Police Department conducts investigation into death of suspect who died in custody

ALBANY – The Albany Police Department is conducting an investigation into the death of a 41-year-old man who died after he was arrested by officers on Saturday, but there is no indication so far that any force was used in taking him into custody, Albany Police Chief Michael Persley said Monday.

Addressing the death during a news conference, Persley said that Robert Joseph Carver was exhibiting unusual behavior at the time officers arrived. The officers took him into custody on the 2000 block of Nottingham Way at about 5:46 p.m.

“It seemed like he was in a state of distress,” the chief said.

Officers noticed that Carver was saying incoherent things and “appeared to be out of it,” Persley said. Carver did not put up any resistance to officers, so no force was used in taking him into custody.

Carver, who was a suspect in the illegal entry of several apartments and damaging property inside them prior to his arrest, was never placed in a patrol vehicle, but was placed on the ground to try to make him more comfortable, Persley said.

Due to his condition at the time they arrived, officers called Dougherty County Emergency Medical Services to check out Carver, but he became unresponsive before an ambulance arrived, the chief said. Officers at the scene administered Narcan, a medication that can revive individuals who have overdosed on opioids, and made other attempts to revive Carver before paramedics arrived.

Carver was transported to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:17 p.m., Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler told The Albany Herald on Sunday.

The next step in the investigation is an autopsy scheduled for Wednesday. That examination will include tests for any substances in his system as well as whether Carver had any underlying medical conditions or injuries that could have contributed to his death, Fowler said.

The police department notified the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Dougherty County District Attorney’s Office of the incident, Persley said. The GBI will look into the case if the police department’s investigation indicates that a crime may have occurred.

Officers involved in the incident were wearing active body cameras, the chief said.

Persley said he was not aware of any interactions between Carver and Albany police prior to Saturday, but that “we do know, from our background (investigation) he has had had other encounters with the law.”

File PhotoAlanMauldin[email protected]