SC man dies in police custody; officials mum on how the incident unfolded

A 45-year-old man collapsed while in police custody Wednesday and died at Greenwood’s Self Memorial Hospital.

Greenwood County Coroner Sonny Cox identified the man as Darnell Smith of Westbrook Drive in Greenwood. Cox said the time of death was 2:35 p.m.

Results of an autopsy scheduled for Thursday morning have not been released.

Greenwood police asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate.

Contacted Thursday, SLED spokesperson Renée Wunderlich declined to say why Smith was in custody or how the incident unfolded.

“SLED was requested by the Greenwood City Police Department Wednesday afternoon to investigate an in-custody death,” she said in an email. “No further details are available from SLED at this time as agents investigate.”