The Alexandria Police Department released body worn camera footage on Thursday (Aug. 28) from one of the officer’s involved in the in-custody death of Allan Tucker II on (Friday) Aug. 15.
Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire told reporters that it’s been a hard week for the department, and asked the community to pray for Tucker’s family and the officers involved in his detainment. The 32-year-old Tucker was arrested for public intoxication after screaming and banging on the doors of neighboring apartments at 2875 N. Beauregard Street on Aug. 15. He was transported to the Alexandria Jail, and during the 10-12 minute ride repeatedly asked to be taken to Alexandria Hospital. He died in a police cruiser after waiting 35-to-40 minutes in the sally port at the jail. While officers at the scene administered NARCAN to Tucker to reverse the effects of a suspected opioid overdose, according to the video released, McGuire did not comment on the official cause of his death and said it needs to be determined by the Office of the Medical Examiner.
During the press conference, McGuire said that there would be corrective actions within the department, but did not mention directly disciplining the officers involved.
“We will look at this event as we do any other critical event, and we will take corrective actions, whether it’s improving training or policies,” McGuire said. “This investigation will take some time to complete.”
The Body Worn Camera Footage
APD released more than an hour-and-a-half of body worn camera footage from one of three officers who responded to the Aug. 15 call for service. The video begins with audio from a 911 call from a neighbor.
“This man is trying to break down everybody’s door,” a caller told a 911 dispatcher.
In the footage, the officer who first approached Tucker in the hallway of the apartment building tries to calm him down. Tucker repeatedly said that there was someone in his apartment with a firearm, and would not go back into the apartment — even after it was cleared by officers. The only person in the apartment was Tucker’s father, who tried to get his son to get back into the home.
“You Ok?” the officer asked Tucker upon seeing him squatting against a wall in the hallway.
“No, I’m not,” Tucker replies calmly. “Somebody’s in my house and I don’t know why.”
Tucker refused to go back into his home and was eventually handcuffed and transported to the Alexandria jail. During the transport, he repeatedly asked the arresting officer to take him to the hospital, according to the video released.
“Take me to Alexandria hospital, please,” Tucker asked the officer. “I need to go to the hospital.”
“We’re going to jail,” the officer responded.
At the jail, the cruiser waited for 35-to-40 minutes in the sally port as the officers awaited the Sheriff’s Office to take Tucker.
“During the time officers were awaiting for the intake process, we hear Mr. Tucker’s disorderly behavior continue, escalating at times, and kicking the inside of the cruiser door,” McGuire said. “The officers remain in close physical proximity of the vehicle and conduct periodic visual checks on his person. There are also brief periods where Mr. Tucker is quiet. Approximately 32 minutes after arriving in the sally port, APD officers check in with Sheriff deputies a third time at the intercom to inquire about entry and no entry is given. At approximately 40 minutes later, one officer checks on Mr. Tucker, determining he is not responsive.”
Tucker was quiet for approximately 20 minutes before officers found him to be unresponsive, according to the video released. Tucker was found lying down in the back seat of the cruiser on his back.
Officers then called for medical support, and gave him NARCAN, believing his medical condition could be related to an overdose. They then took off his handcuffs, carried him out of the cruiser and were unsuccessful in resuscitating him.
McGuire said that officers often have to make split-second decisions, assess risk, follow policy and act in the interest of public safety. He also said that threats have been made against officers involved in the incident.
“APD fully recognizes that police actions today should be subject to public scrutiny,” McGuire said. “However, we are aware that threats have been made against several officers involved in this case. Such threats are not only inappropriate, but they also divert attention from meaningful advocacy civility and the facts of this ongoing investigation.”
Multiple investigations into the in-custody death
McGuire said that there was no use of force by officers, and that two of the officers directly involved have been taken off the street and placed on administrative duties at police headquarters pending the outcome of investigations by the Northern Virginia Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), APD’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the city’s Office of the Independent Police Auditor.
“I stress that Mr. Tucker was not armed,” McGuire said. “Officers worked to deescalate the situation, and ultimately decided to take Mr. Tucker into custody for public intoxication.”
The Office of the Independent Police Auditor is taking the following actions:
- Conducting an independent investigation into the death of Allan Tucker II
- Securing timely access to records, body-worn camera footage, and other evidence
- Reviewing officer history, police reports, and applicable policies
- Preparing training and materials to support the Board’s forthcoming independent review
The auditor will take findings and recommendations to the Independent Community Policing Review Board, which will hold a public hearing and issue its own report that will go to City Council.
“The Independent Community Police Review Board will hold a public hearing on the Auditor’s investigation during a fall meeting,” the auditor’s office said in a release. “At this hearing, residents will have the opportunity to provide public comment on the in-custody death investigation.”
The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office put out the following statement regarding the timing of the intake process on Aug. 15:
Sheriff Sean Casey joins Police Chief Tarrick McGuire in extending his condolences to the loved ones of Allan F. Tucker II, who died in Alexandria police custody on August 15. The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office fully supports, and has cooperated with, the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) as it conducts a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Tucker’s death.
The Sheriff’s Office has also initiated our own internal review, which will carefully examine the actions of our staff during, and in relation to, these events. As part of this review, the wait time experienced by the Alexandria Police Department officers is being assessed. For context, a wait time of approximately 40 minutes during shift change would not be unusual.
It is also important to emphasize that Sheriff’s Office deputies and contract medical staff responded immediately to provide assistance once they were notified of the medical emergency.
A GoFundMe launched by Tucker’s family for legal costs has so far raised more than $4,000.
