Ariel J Clark, 31

Reynoldsburg, Ohio
February 20, 2016

Agencies: Reynoldsburg Division of Police Ohio

Cause of death: Choking

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

The death of a Fairfield County Jail inmate, who reportedly fought with deputies and was placed in a restraint chair, was a result of natural causes, according to autopsy results released Monday.

Ariel J. Clark, 31, of New York, died from respiratory failure caused by a blood clot in his lung, according to autopsy results. Ed Breining, investigator for the Fairfield County Coroner's Office, said blood clots can occur after long airplane rides, car rides or when the body is stationary for long periods of time. Breining said it's unclear when the clot formed, and he said it could have formed before or after Clark was in custody.

Clark was pronounced dead at Fairfield Medical Center after "demonstrating some difficulty breathing" at the jail during his three-day stay on Feb. 20, said Jail Bureau Commander Lt. Marc Churchill.

According to a Reynoldsburg Police Department report, Clark had been traveling from New York to Texas with his wife and two children when he was arrested. A motorist called 911 after interacting with Clark in a Reynoldsburg parking lot and reported Clark threatened to kill himself and his son.

Clark was reportedly combative with officers and threatened to kill them during his arrest, according to police reports.

Clark's wife told police he had been acting "crazy" but she thought he was just tired as he hadn't slept in five days. No alcohol or illegal drugs were found in Clark's system, according to the autopsy conducted by the Licking County Coroner's Office. One drug, which is used to treat mental illness, was found.

Reynoldsburg police placed Clark in a restraint chair and took him to the jail Feb. 17. Clark remained in the restraint chair off and on for three days.

Legal Action

May 2016 Autopsy report released