In-custody Death Determined to be Meth Overdose

The Clay County Investigative Squad has concluded its investigation into the May 8 in-custody death of 21-year-old Benjamin E. Chase at the Excelsior Springs Police Department. The investigation found no crime occurred. 

An autopsy and toxicology report showed Chase’s cause of death was methamphetamine intoxication.

The investigation determined Excelsior Springs Police officers arrested Chase about 8:50 p.m. May 7, 2022, after a brief foot chase. During the pursuit, Chase refused to comply with officers’ commands and charged at the officers. An officer deployed a Taser. One of the Taser probes struck Chase’s chest, and the other reportedly attached to his clothing. He then complied with officers, who requested an ambulance crew to examine him. Chase refused further treatment, and officers transported him to the jail at the Excelsior Springs Police Department, where he was placed on a 48-hour hold.

ESPD staff checked on him throughout the night and next day, and fed him with no issues. They found him unresponsive in his cell at 3:01 p.m. May 8 and called an ambulance. Paramedics pronounced Chase dead at the scene.

Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigators interviewed everyone involved in the incident and reviewed videos, EMS reports, autopsy photos and reports, and toxicology reports to determine no crime occurred in Chase’s death. As stated in the autopsy report, Chase’s cause of death was methamphetamine intoxication, and his manner of death was ruled an accident.

The Clay County Investigative Squad is led by two members of the Sheriff’s Office, and it also includes investigators from three other Clay County law enforcement agencies. Detectives shared the investigation’s findings with the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office, which will not be filing any charges.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story