Death of man on Tulalip reservation ruled an accident

The Snohomish County Multi-Agency Response Team (SMART) is in the process of completing their investigation into the death of Cecil Lacy who died while in protective custody on 9-18-15 on the Tulalip Reservation. 

On 09-18-15, at about 9:45 PM, Tulalip Tribal Police and Snohomish County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) responded to the 6400 block of Marine Drive for a male, Mr. Lacy, walking in the roadway. 

Tulalip Police Officers' and a SCSO Deputy arrived in the area at about 10:00 PM and made contact with Mr. Lacy, a Tulalip citizen.  Mr. Lacy was offered a ride home by the officers to get him out of the street. Mr. Lacy was told he needed to be handcuffed for officer safety as he rode in the officers patrol vehicle.  Mr. Lacy stated he had a shoulder injury and requested to be handcuffed in the front.  The Officer complied with Mr. Lacy's request and escorted him to a patrol vehicle.  

Mr. Lacy was initially compliant and sat down in the patrol vehicle.  However, as officers went to close the door Mr. Lacy began to exit the patrol vehicle and struggled with officers.  During the altercation, Mr. Lacy became unresponsive and Officers attempted to revive him with CPR until medical aid arrived.  Mr. Lacy died at the scene.   

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office has completed their examination of Cecil Lacy.  The cause of death is a heart attack with methamphetamine intoxication, with contributing factors of pre-existing natural disease and physical struggle with law enforcement.  The manner of death is accident. 

The incident remains under investigation by the Snohomish County Multi-Agency Response Team (SMART), a team of detectives from various Snohomish County law enforcement agencies who respond to and investigate police use-of-force incidents in the county.