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SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that the in-custody death of an alleged shoplifter who had just been handcuffed by police does not warrant criminal charges.
On May 2, employees at Ace Hardware, 612 E. 400 South, tried to stop Mischa Ryan Cox, 30, who walked out of the store with items he allegedly shoplifted. A struggle ensued between Cox and the employees, and then two bystanders who tried to help, according to police.
By the time the first Salt Lake officer arrived, Cox was already on the ground and an officer placed him in handcuffs as a precaution. But as soon as he did, the officer realized that Cox had no pulse and was not breathing and blood was around his mouth as well as blood on the pavement next to him.
Cox was pronounced dead four days later. A cause of death was not announced.
Because he was placed in handcuffs and later died, an officer-involved critical incident protocol was invoked. If Cox had never been handcuffed, it would not have been classified that way.
Related:
Body camera video released of shoplifter who died following parking lot fight in Utah
A man suspected of shoplifting from a downtown hardware store and getting into a fight with employees was unresponsive and had no pulse by the time police arrived, according to Salt Lake City police.In determining that no criminal charges should be filed, District Attorney Sim Gill said he relied especially on police body camera video.
“The officer began chest compressions and other life saving efforts as other SLCPD officers arrived on scene,” according to Gill’s report. “Although it’s difficult to determine the moment when Mr. Cox died, it appears Mr. Cox was either dead when police arrived or had sustained fatal injuries making his impending death essentially inevitable.”
Gill noted that “it’s clear” that Cox’s death was not caused by anything Salt Lake City police did.
Out of an abundance of caution, Gill said his office still decided to investigate the case as an in-custody death.
