SOLICITOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES DECISION IN THOMPSON DEATH INVESTIGATION

December 14, 2009
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(Anderson, SC). After a thorough review of the evidence presented by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, there will be no State criminal charges filed in relation to the death of Mr. Robert Thompson. 

On September 19, 2009, Mr. Thompson was a passenger in a car that was stopped by the Anderson Police Department for a traffic violation. It was discovered that Mr. Thompson had an outstanding warrant. When the officers went to take him into custody, Mr. Thompson pushed the car door into one of the officers and fled. A foot pursuit ensued. Officer Small and Thompson became separated from the other officers during the chase. Officer Small was able to take Thompson into custody after an intense struggle. During this struggle, Officer Small was forced to place his arms around Mr. Thompson in a manner that resulted in Mr. Thompson’s neck being compressed against his own arm. According to the CAD report, the struggle lasted approximately two and a half minutes. The evidence showed that Mr. Thompson was still breathing when the handcuffs were placed on him and for several minutes afterwards. 

An autopsy of Mr. Thompson revealed that the cause of death was asphyxia due to neck vascular compression. According to Dr. Woodard, the autopsy results are consistent with the evidence presented by SLED. 

During the initial traffic stop Mr. Thompson informed the other occupants in the car that if the police tried to arrest him he was going to run. Mr. Thompson has a history of resisting arrest and during the struggle Small attempted to release his grip several times, all while instructing Thompson to stop resisting, and Thompson failed to comply throughout the arrest process.