Man Arrested for Public Intoxication Dies: Aberdeen Police

Officials with the Aberdeen Police Department say they are investigating after a Belcamp man died in police custody over the weekend.

Barry Lee Berkenkemper, 59, of the 1200 block of Brass Mill Road, was arrested for public intoxication and failure to obey a lawful order, Aberdeen police said in a statement Monday.

Police said Berkenkemper was taken into custody at 2:40 p.m. on Thursday, April 2.

As he was being escorted to a cell in the booking area of the Aberdeen Police Department, he fell and hit his head, according to police.

Aberdeen Fire Department paramedics took Berkenkemper to Harford Memorial Hospital, and he was later transported to shock trauma, police reported.

On Saturday morning, police were informed that he had died, according to the report.

Police said Berkenkemper was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy, where the cause and manner of death would be determined.

The Aberdeen Police Department reports that it is conducting an internal investigation into Berkenkemper’s death.

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