Jul 16, 2013 3 min read

Washington County officials will hold a news conference Thursday on the 2012 death of a man who died outside The Meadows Racetrack & Casino after being subdued by police using a Taser.

Coroner Tim Warco and District Attorney Eugene Vittone will announce further details regarding the death of Darryll L. Briston, 49, of 1309 Grandview Ave., North Braddock, who was pronounced dead December 15 in the emergency room of Canonsburg General Hospital. The news conference will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in the juror’s lounge on the first floor of Washington County Courthouse.

Briston, a former Rankin police chief, was at the casino when he got into a confrontation with a man who was there with Briston’s estranged wife, police said. Briston reportedly punched the man, then attempted to flee from security.

State police said Briston was inside the casino on the night of his death when he came upon his estranged wife and her male companion at 10:30 p.m. Police said Briston exchanged words with the other man and punched him in the face.

The assault was witnessed by security staff at the casino, who requested assistance from the state police Gaming Enforcement Office inside the casino, as well as officers with the North Strabane Township Police Department. According to state police, Briston ran from the casino, but was pursued by security personnel for about a quarter-mile. Briston reportedly refused commands to put his hands behind him so he could be handcuffed and resisted being restrained.

He was warned that a Taser would be used if he failed to comply, and a trooper with the Gaming Enforcement Office applied a Taser to Briston’s upper right leg for two seconds, police said. Police said he then complied and was handcuffed without incident.

Police escorted Briston to a waiting North Strabane Township patrol car. Briston complained that the handcuffs were too tight and, a short time later, said he was having difficulty breathing. North Strabane police called Canonsburg Ambulance, whose staff responded and treated Briston. According to authorities, Briston apparently went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

State police said the time between when Briston was taken into custody and when he went into cardiac arrest was about 24 minutes. In a news release a day after the death, Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said there were no indications that Briston had suffered any internal or external trauma. Warco said an autopsy had been performed but did rule on the manner or cause of Briston’s death pending the outcome of the police investigation. Police said their preliminary investigation indicates Briston died of natural causes.