Man dies while in police custody

HALIFAX COUNTY (WTVD) — The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of a man who died while in police custody in Halifax County over the weekend.

Enfield Police Department Chief Willie L. Tillery, Jr. has asked the SBI to investigate after 55-year-old Tyrone Gallagher of Midlothian, Virginia died while in custody late Saturday night.

Authorities say around 11 p.m. Lt. Jerry Powell was called to the 100 block of Whitfield Street in Enfield about a breaking and entering in progress at a local business. When he arrived, Powell confronted Gallagher. Powell, along with a witness, got in to an altercation with Gallagher. During the confrontation, authorities said Powell’s taser was used on Gallagher. Powell and the witness then handcuffed Gallagher.

Halifax County EMS was called to the scene to treat all three of them. EMS found Gallagher unresponsive and he was immediately transported to the Halifax County Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

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