News Report: Man Dies While in Custody

The media is reporting that a gentleman was taken into police custody in Rhode Island after a traffic stop. While details are incomplete, the media reports indicate that the detainee was not able to take his seizure medication -- phenobarbital -- on time. He then reportedly died while in custody, raising the possibility of a connection between missing his seizure medication and his death, though this has not yet been confirmed in published reports.

It is vitally important for people with epilepsy on medications to take or be given their medications regularly, as prescribed. The consequences for missing medication can be an increase in seizures, which can have serious - and possibly fatal - consequences.

For information on seizures and seizure medication, please go to Seizure Medicines at http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_medicines.html

We will bring you further details about this story when available. Here are links to the full story.

• Immigrant died of drug combination
  The death of Edimar Alves De Araujo, the Brazilian immigrant who collapsed in the custody of federal immigration agents last month, was caused by “acute intoxication” — a combination of the effects of cocaine and hydroxyzine, a medication used for treating anxiety and vomiting.

• From traffic stop to Fatality
  Edimar Alves De Araujo is buried now in Brazil, even as a controversy swirls about his death while in federal custody last month.

• ACLU of Rhode Island Seeks Review of Police Department Medical Policies Following Death of Immigrant

• Brazil to monitor probe of fatality.
  The Brazilian government yesterday pushed the U.S. government to “investigate deeply” the death of Edmar Alves De Araujo, a 34-year-old Brazilian national who died in Providence last Tuesday while in federal custody.

• John Kerry: Kerry Demands Explanation Concerning Death Of Immigrant While In Federal Custody.
  Senator John Kerry yesterday wrote a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding an investigation into the death of a Brazilian immigrant from Milford.

• Probe sought into death of detainee
  DeAraujo, a 34-year-old Brazilian national from Milford, Mass., died about 75 minutes after federal immigration agents took him into custody Tuesday on an outstanding deportation warrant.

• Man dies while in ICE custody
  Authorities are investigating the death of Edimar Alves Dearaujo, a Brazilian national who died Tuesday at Rhode Island Hospital 78 minutes after being taken into custody in Woonsocket by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to an ICE spokeswoman in Boston.

• US to probe death of immigration detainee
  Sister says police refused medicine for Milford man

Updated: 09/25/07