Coroner: Columbia Woman Dies While in Police Custody

A Columbia woman died while being transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center following an arrest in Five Points, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said Wednesday.  

Watts said Columbia Police arrested the woman on Tuesday after officers received complaints that she was running around in traffic, screaming, and jumping into cars.

The woman's identity hasn't been released because her family hasn't been notified. 

Authorities said the woman kicked out the window of the first patrol car she was placed in, causing them to move her to a second patrol car to meet another unit for transport to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

As officers opened the door for the transfer, the woman started screaming again and became unresponsive, according to a release.

She was then transported by EMS to Palmetto Health Baptist where she was pronounced dead at 3:28pm, Watts said. 

An autopsy conducted Wednesday shows no signs of trauma or any injuries to the woman, and preliminary results point towards some type of drug overdose, Watts said.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating because the incident occurred while she was in police custody.