Cause of Man's Death Following Arrest Still a Mystery

The results of a preliminary autopsy on the man who died following arrest by the Sarasota Police Department are in, but they offer little insight on just John Kaafi, 33, died.

Kaafi was arrested on May 6 around 9 p.m. on a number of drug-related charges. During his arrest, he began complaining of an asthma attack. Police called EMS out to the scene, but called off assistance when Kaafi appeared to be feeling better, the agency stated. Following a rather lengthy trip to the Sarasota County Jail, during which Kaafi attempted to escape, the man began complaining again of asthma symptoms, police said at the time.

Kaafi was inside the Sarasota County Jail’s sally port when he indicated he was in distress, police said. He was subsequently taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for treatment, having never been formally booked into the jail.

Kaafi died May 8.

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On Tuesday, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, which is conducting an investigation into Kaafi’s death, released the results of the preliminary autopsy report.

The Medical Examiner found “no external or internal injuries or preexisting disease that would explain his death,” sheriff’s office spokeswoman Wendy Rose wrote in an email to media. “The Medical Examiner is awaiting toxicology results before a final determination of the cause of death can be made. Our office will not conclude this investigation until these findings are received.”

The sheriff’s office began its investigation May 7, before Kaafi died.

No further information is available at this time.

Booking photo of John Kaafi courtesy of the Sarasota County Jail

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