Medical Examiner Rules Clarksville Man's Jail Death Homicide

A medical examiner determined on Wednesday that Darius Chappell died of a homicide, a finding that concludes an autopsy into the Clarksville man's death in July. The report identifies the cause of death as injuries sustained during his arrest by the Clarksville Police Department.

Chappell, 34, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Montgomery County Jail on July 3. He was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. The medical examiner's report states that Chappell suffered from rhabdomyolysis, a condition involving muscle death due to kidney damage, which developed after he was tased and bitten by a police dog.

The arrest occurred on June 30 in front of a Dutch Bros. on Fort Campbell Boulevard. Video footage shows officers detaining Chappell on probation violation warrants. During the encounter, a K-9 bit Chappell for nearly a minute while officers attempted to handcuff him. Chappell was transported to Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital, where staff cleared him for jail.

Steven Deering, the handler for the K-9 involved in the arrest, was fired by the Clarksville Police Department in early September. Deering had been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into the use of force. The department stated it will continue to cooperate with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which is leading the inquiry into Chappell's death.

Robert Nash, the District Attorney General for the 19th Judicial District, confirmed that the TBI stepped in at the request of his office. Nash said he plans to meet with the medical examiner within two weeks to review the report's findings. Those findings will inform his decision on whether to file criminal charges.

Marquell Bridges, a family spokesperson, said the family feels vindicated by the homicide determination. Bridges stated that Chappell's symptoms worsened in the days before his death and that his mother sought help from jail officials without success. "We demand swift criminal justice," Bridges said. "We want to see the officers and everyone involved with murdering her son in prison."

Court documents obtained by the Herald detail the events leading to the arrest. On June 29, deputies spotted Chappell's vehicle at a Burger King on Fort Campbell Boulevard. When deputies tried to stop him, Chappell ran into oncoming traffic. Officers used a taser multiple times before deploying the K-9. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said jail medical staff treated Chappell according to established protocols after he was booked.