CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The man arrested during a June 29 use-of-force incident in Clarksville has died while in custody, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will now investigate his death.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said 34-year-old Darius Chappell was found unresponsive in his cell during a routine security check at the Montgomery County Jail around 3 a.m. Friday.
Emergency Medical Services responded to the jail and transported Chappell to Vanderbilt of Clarksville, where he was pronounced dead.
The sheriff's office said its Criminal Investigations Division conducted a preliminary investigation before turning its findings over to the TBI, which will now lead the investigation. Chappell's next of kin has been notified.
Chappell was arrested June 29 outside the Dutch Bros. on Fort Campbell Boulevard. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said deputies made the arrest with assistance from the Clarksville Police Department.
Video of the arrest, which was shared with NewsChannel 5 and has circulated widely on social media, shows several officers trying to arrest Chappell. At the beginning of the encounter, he is on the ground before getting to his feet and appearing to struggle with officers as they try to take him into custody.
The video shows a police K-9 being deployed as officers continue trying to restrain Chappell. The dog appears to bite Chappell while officers hold him on the ground. Chappell can be heard screaming in pain while a bystander repeatedly yells for officers to get the dog off him.
About a minute later, an officer physically pulls the K-9 away. As the dog is being removed, it appears to briefly bite or snap at the officer's leg. Officers then continue taking Chappell into custody. He appears to struggle to stay on his feet.
Following the incident, the Clarksville Police Department said it opened an internal investigation into the K-9 deployment.
"The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending completion of an internal investigation in accordance with departmental policy," the department said. "No additional information is available for release at this time."
Chappell's family is calling for justice in his death.
They described him as a family man who never met a stranger and was always making them laugh.
They believe he didn't receive the proper care while incarcerated, describing over the phone how he only received ibuprofen for the multiple bite wounds on his back, arms, legs and groin area.
Chappell's cause of death has not been released.
On Friday, Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts released a statement offering condolences to Chappell's family.
"The City of Clarksville and CPD share in the general public's desire to learn all of the facts of this incident, and have it resolved with careful due process ensuring that justice is served fairly and accurately," Pitts said.
He added that the city and police department will fully cooperate with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the 19th Judicial District Attorney General's Office while the investigation is underway and will not comment further until it is complete.
Court records show Chappell had recently been charged with domestic assault before the June 29 arrest.
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