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Autopsy Report Released On Man Who Died In Police Custody

The death of Robert Earl Williams, 62, who died in June after fighting five police officers who were trying to arrest him, was a homicide, according to an autopsy report Waco police said Monday.

The report from the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas says Williams died of “acute physiologic stress associated with multiple electrical shocks during attempted restraint by police for schizophrenia with excited delirium with exacerbating conditions of hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and obesity,” police said.

Williams fought with the five officers after police tried to take him into custody in connection with a family violence incident.

Officers tried to use Tasers to subdue Williams, but the devices had no effect and they were forced to restrain him physically, police officials said.

Williams then complained of shortness of breath, lost consciousness and stopped breathing.

Officers administered CPR until paramedics arrived. Williams was later pronounced dead at Providence Health Center.

"The autopsy report confirms what we already suspected in that we had a man in a state of excited delirium fighting multiple officers who were trying to take him in to custody,” said Waco Police Chief Alberto Melis in a prepared release.

“Unfortunately, he also had heart, health and mental conditions that contributed to a situation where he died,” Melis said.

“As is customary in "in-custody" death situations, this case will be transferred to the McLennan County District Attorney's office for review by a Grand Jury and a report has been made to the Texas Attorney General's Office." Melis said.

The five officers involved in the arrest were placed on routine administrative leave after Williams died.

The struggle that led to William’s death started after two officers were dispatched on June 14 to a residence in the 1900 block of South 22nd Street after a woman called to report a domestic disturbance involving her brother.

When the officers arrived, Williams, who police said was 6-feet-tall and weighed more than 300 pounds, was in the backyard of the home.

Police said he had been warned away from the residence in October of 2004 after another disturbance in which a Taser was used to subdue him.

The officers talked to him for about 20 minutes, but could not convince him to leave the property.

Williams then picked up a piece of reinforcing bar and moved to attack the officers, police said.

One of the officers tried to use a Taser to subdue Williams, but police said the man flailed his arms and the Taser barbs pulled loose.

The officers called for backup and three more units were sent to the house.

The Taser was used three more times in an attempt to subdue Williams, police said, but with little effect.

Finally the officers succeeded in handcuffing him by force.

Police said officers had to use two pairs of handcuffs because of the man’s size.

As Williams sat on the ground after he was handcuffed, police said, he complained he was having difficulty breathing.

Former McLennan County District Attorney Vic Feazell, whose office represents members of William’s family, however, challenged police claims that Williams threatened officers.

“There are several bystander statements that confirm Mr. Williams was not threatening the police and these witnesses have been interviewed by my office as well as by the police department,” Feazell said in a prepared statement released Monday evening.