Report: Man Who Died in Border Patrol Custody Was Believed to be Faking Seizure

Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

An American citizen died in U.S. Border Patrol custody after paramedics erroneously concluded that he was faking a seizure, according to a medical examiner’s report, Al Jazeera reports.

Steven Keith, 58, died on Christmas at a Southern California checkpoint facility about 20 miles from the border.

The cause of Keith’s death is an overdose from methamphetamine, which may have been the result of him swallowing a packet of meth that broke in his digestive system.

When Keith arrived at the Campo Border Patrol Station on Christmas eve, a paramedic was asked to examine him because of “seizure-like activity.”

“The paramedic reportedly applied pressure to his shoulder area and initially assessed that he was faking a seizure. He was then left alone in the cell and continued to be monitored via camera,” the report said.

When a Border Patrol agent checked on Keith’s cell, he was  “discovered lying unresponsive,” according to the report.

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