Prosecuting Attorney Dwight K. Scroggins, Jr., on April 19 announced the results of the investigation regarding the death of Bruce Lee Edward Johnson who died on November 16, 2016. Mr. Johnson died after being arrested by the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force on the same date. Officers were looking for another wanted subject who had an outstanding warrant. During the course of that search officers made contact with Mr. Johnson. Upon making contact, Mr. Johnson attempted to flee and during the course of the chase DFS Officers deployed a taser. Mr. Johnson was taken into custody and officers called for an ambulance to check Mr. Johnson's well-being after being tased. Shortly after the ambulance arrived Mr. Johnson went into cardiac arrest. Resuscitation efforts were immediately attempted by ambulance personnel both before and during transport to Mosaic Life Care. All resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and Mr. Johnson was pronounced deceased by Mosaic Emergency Room doctors at approximately 1431 hours on November 11, 2016.
An investigation into Mr. Johnson's death was conducted by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The investigation was to determine the cause of death of Mr. Johnson as well as to address whether there was any misconduct by officers during the arrest procedure. "After a thorough review of the information found during the investigation and a review of the final autopsy report prepared by Frontier Forensics Midwest, L.L.C., it is my determination the cause of death of Mr. Johnson was from methamphetamine intoxication," said Scroggins. "Furthermore, there is no indication of excessive use of force or improper conduct by officers involved in the arrest," said Scroggins.
This determination brings to an end any further criminal inquiry by authorities into Mr. Johnson's death.