Autopsy: Man Died Due To Being Hogtied

Tim Edwards, representing Troy Goode’s family, released the results during a news conference in Memphis.

The state’s autopsy has not been released. DeSoto County District Attorney John Champion told The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/1Qv0lGO ) he didn’t know when it would be finished, but that a wait time of six to eight months wouldn’t be unusual.

Goode was left hog-tied and on his stomach for an extended period after his July 18 arrest in Southaven, Edwards said. The autopsy shows that Goode had trouble breathing in that position and when his heart couldn’t compensate, it went into cardiac arrhythmia and killed him, Edwards said.

“He was suffocating. His heart increased into what is called tachycardia,” Edwards said. “There is no scientific basis to attribute his death to LSD.”

Edwards is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to open a civil-rights investigation into Goode’s death. He also said the family plans to file a lawsuit in early January asking for both compensation and a ban on these types of restraint.

“This was lethal force, putting someone in a prolonged hog-tied position,” Edwards said. “This was not a situation where a 300-pound man attacked a police officer in the dark. This was a science nerd.” Goode was 6 feet-1-inch tall and weighed 150 lbs., Edwards and another attorney for the family, Kevin McCormack, said in a statement.

The situation began as Goode and his wife, Kelli, were heading to a Widespread Panic concert at the Snowden Grove Amphitheater. In the parking lot before the show, Goode and several others took a hit of LSD. After Goode began acting erratically, his wife got him in the car to take him home. Around 8 p.m., however, she pulled into a parking lot and Goode got out of the car. His continued erratic behavior led someone in a nearby fast-food restaurant to call police. Goode apparently then ran around the lot, at one point even releasing a police dog from a van. Eventually, officers subdued him, restraining his arms and legs behind him. Goode was taken to an area hospital, but was later pronounced dead. He was 30.

Edwards said the autopsy also found no evidence of a pre-existing disease that would have led to his death. A previous toxicology report confirmed that Goode had used LSD and marijuana before he died.

“The toxicology report … rules out any drug-related causes. That takes that off the table,” Edwards said. “LSD does not cause heart failure.”

Although Champion previously said he believed that LSD use contributed to Goode’s death, he declined to comment on the independent autopsy Wednesday.

Officials from the City of Southaven released a statement Wednesday calling Goode’s death a “tragic situation” but said they stand behind their first responders.

“At no time during the arrest or while receiving medical care from Southaven responders did Mr. Goode claim he could not breathe or appear short of breath,” the statement said.

“The men and women of the City of Southaven EMS and police were faced with a difficult situation and handled Mr. Goode’s arrest in a manner that officers and emergency personnel deemed appropriate and necessary for the safety of Mr. Goode and all persons involved. The City is aware of potential litigation regarding this matter and will put forth a vigorous defense for all its first responders involving all the facts in this matter.”