Investigation finishes in death of Benton County inmate tasered by police
A Benton County inmate found unconscious in his cell in December died from an overdose, a special investigation found.
Bryce Hilzer, 33, died from “acute fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl and methadone intoxication,” a release from the Regional Special Investigations Unit said Thursday.
The autopsy found that the West Richland man had no physical injuries, and it was determined his death was accidental, the release said.
Hilzer, who was diabetic and had a history of drug use, was found unresponsive in his cell on Dec. 16.
Family members had called police about 2:30 a.m. to report he was “acting strange,” a SIU news release said.
Two West Richland officers and medics said Hilzer “became combative” when they arrived, said the release.
In the struggle, Hilzer tried to hit an officer, and was shocked with a Taser. He was arrested for third-degree assault, and with the help of Benton County deputies, was taken to a local hospital and medically cleared to be taken to the jail in Kennewick.
He arrived there about 4:15 a.m. and was being held in a cell in an area where corrections officers and medical staff could monitor him, the release said.
About 11 a.m., officers realized Hilzer was unresponsive. Corrections officers, medical staff and fire department medics tried to revive him, but he died at the jail.
Family members have said that Hilzer was the “sweetest kid you ever would have met,” according to a GoFundMe.
Some relatives have contended that Hilzer should have been hospitalized, rather than jailed.
County jail officials called in the special investigations unit to investigate his death. The multi-agency organization uses detectives from agencies in Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties to look into deaths involving people in police custody.
The final report is then handed over to the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office to determine if police or jail officials did anything wrong and should face criminal charges. The report released Thursday provides no information on whether the officers followed the department’s policies and procedures.
Prosecutor Eric Eisinger said he received the report Thursday and will review it.