Police say Drug overdose led to death of Black Man in Custody

A man who died while in police custody last Monday night suffered an apparent drug overdose, police said. Officials said a large bag of narcotics was found in the suspect's throat and a smaller bag was found in his stomach. The family of Shannon Brown, 33, believes he was a victim of excessive force by police. "I need to know how my son left this earth. And I need to know the officers that took him out of this earth," said Clara Brown, Brown's mother. Police arrested Brown around 9 p.m. on the city's North Side while answering a call of three people trespassing at a North Side building, 927 W. Wilson Avenue. Brown reportedly opened the door of the building to plainclothes police officers. Witnesses said the officers went after Brown instead of the trespassers. "They didn't understand that he wasn't the one," said one witness, who did not want to be identified. Officials said the officers wanted to talk to Brown in the building lobby-- but that when he reached into his pants pockets, they sprayed him with pepper spray. They then arrested Brown for aggravated battery and resisting arrest. "He was handcuffed like this, and his hand and his head was brought to the floor like this. He was like that with his leg right here. He kept telling them he couldn't breathe," said Zalee Petties, witness. Brown was taken to Town Hill District Police Station where he began convulsing. Brown was taken to nearby Thorek Hospital where he was pronounced dead just before midnight. Brown's family is worried about a police cover-up in the case. [more]

• But Police say Brown Swallowed a "balloon filled with drugs". An autopsy this morning found in the man's stomach "a balloon with suspect drugs and other packets that were beginning to dissolve," said police spokesman Pat Camden. Officers received a call of trespassing about 9 p.m. Monday on the 900 block of West Wilson Avenue on the city's North Side. They found Shannon Brown loitering and drinking in the foyer of an Uptown apartment building, police said. Brown allegedly ran. Police gave pursuit and used pepper spray to subdue him. As they were taking Brown into custody, officers reported, they saw him remove something from his waist pocket and place it in his mouth. [more]