IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Eastern Idaho law enforcement officers acted lawfully in detaining a 28-year-old man who fatally stabbed himself after his hands were cuffed in front of his body, a prosecutor says.
The Post Register reported that Bingham County Prosecutor Cleve Colson made public his conclusions on Friday concerning the death of 28-year-old Kyle Eddington.
“After a thorough review of the evidence with regard to the Aug. 1 death of Kyle Eddington, the officers acted lawfully in detaining Eddington for suspected probation violations and criminal actions involving the distribution of a controlled substance,” Colson said.
Authorities say Eddington was in police custody when he ran into his apartment, grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed himself in the throat four times. He later died at Bingham Memorial Hospital.
Blackfoot Police Chief Kurt Asmus said Monday that the agency’s policy is to allow officers to use their discretion in deciding whether to handcuff someone in front or back. Factors going into that decision, he said, can vary with such things as medical conditions, pregnancies, and the person’s behavior.
“In this case, Mr. Eddington was being compliant in everything,” Asmus said.
According to police records, Blackfoot Police Cpl. John Hay took Eddington into custody late on July 31 at some storage units after speaking with Eddington’s parole officer by phone and determining Eddington might be violating his probation.
Hay and the parole officer, Kelly Rausch of the Idaho Department of Correction, agreed to search Eddington’s apartment for drugs. Asmus said that because there would be a delay between Hay and Eddington meeting Rausch, Hay decided to handcuff Eddington in front because it’s not as uncomfortable as being handcuffed behind the back.
Hay and Eddington then met Rausch at Eddington’s apartment, but Hay and Rausch didn’t find any drugs. Hay called Cpl. Chad Braswell and his K-9 partner, Moxie. Moxie also didn’t find anything in Eddington’s apartment.
Hay, Braswell and Moxie then went to search the storage units, and Moxie indicated one of them contained drugs. The officers obtained a search warrant.
Meanwhile, police said, Eddington, Rausch and officer Blake Davis were outside Eddington’s apartment when Rausch told Eddington that police were going to search the storage unit.
“The situation abruptly changed,” Asmus said.
That’s when Eddington, authorities said, became agitated and ran into the apartment and stabbed himself. An ambulance took Eddington to Bingham Memorial Hospital where he died.
Hay told Pocatello police investigators that he handcuffed Eddington in front of his body “due to the fact that he did not have any charges on him at the time, and that (Hay) was going to transport him.”
Hay had to complete a 10-week basic training course at the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy to become a Blackfoot police officer.
Doug Tangen, a basic training manager, said it’s recommended that officers handcuff detainees with their hands behind their back, though policies among agencies can vary.
Asmus said his agency is reviewing its handcuff policy following Eddington’s death.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
