DeLAND, Fla. – A man detained Wednesday outside a DeLand drug house later died after hiding several plastic bags of drugs in his mouth, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives were executing a search warrant on South Clara Avenue around 10:30 a.m. following an undercover investigation into drug sales from the house, officials said.
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Five people, including 54-year-old Cornell McKinney, were detained and seated outside, but McKinney was not verbally responding to detectives, according to sheriff’s officials.
Detectives suspected that McKinney may be trying to conceal or swallow narcotics and told him several times to open his mouth and spit out whatever he was chewing on, deputies said.
According to the sheriff’s office, McKinney refused so detectives called for medical assistance.
McKinney then became unresponsive and DeLand Fire Department crews began life-saving measures, officials said.
According to authorities, first responders recovered three plastic bags from McKinney’s mouth and throat, two of which contained suspected heroin and fentanyl and crack cocaine.
McKinney was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, officials said.
DeLand code enforcement officers posted notices on the house deeming it unsafe.
McKinney’s official cause of death is pending an autopsy by the medical examiner.