Louisa Police Sergeant Steven Wilburn says he saw a vehicle being driven by 56-year old Billy J. Collins of Louisa, drive off the road, into a grassy area and into a ditch where the vehicle got stuck. Sergeant Wilburn says he made contact with Collins and determined Collins was driving on a suspended license and didn’t have proper auto insurance.
Sergeant Wilburn says Collins began yelling and cursing at people who were attending the Lawrence County High School graduation. Sergeant Wilburn says he arrested Collins and charged him with, among other things, with Disorderly Conduct.
Collins was taken to the Louisa Police Department where he reportedly refused to comply with all officer commands. Sergeant Wilburn says Collins became combative and hit him multiple times. Investigators say Collins then ran into the police department’s foyer and barricaded himself inside.
Additional officers from the Louisa Police Department and Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene. State Police say a member of the sheriff’s department deployed his agency issued taser through a small crack in the door, striking Collins.
Investigators say the taser was ineffective and that Collins removed the probes. Sergeant Wilburn says he was able to gain access to the foyer through a secondary door. Sergeant Wilburn says after Collins refused to comply with his commands, he deployed his agency issued taser, striking Collins.
Sergeant Wilburn says the taser was effective, but that Collins continued to resist and would not comply with officer’s commands. State Police say officers on the scene continued struggling with Collins and issued strikes with closed, empty hands and also with their agency issued asp as Collins reportedly remained combative.
After the struggle, Collins was restrained and placed in a seated position, according to State Police. Investigators say officer’s quickly requested EMS respond to the police station and prior to their arrival, Collins reportedly began exhibiting signs of a medical emergency. Netcare EMS provided medical assistance and transported Collins to Three Rivers Medical Center, where he later died, according to State Police.
An autopsy was conducted on Collins on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort. The final report is pending additional examination and will be available once it’s complete, according to State Police.
Prior medical issues are being reviewed and examined as part of the ongoing investigation, according to State Police. Results of the preliminary investigation do not indicate criminal actions involving any law enforcement officers, according to State Police.