SLIDELL, La. -- A suspect who was driving a stolen car collapsed and died Sunday after Slidell police arrested him following a chase, police said.
Slidell Police Department spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said the coroner's office is investigating the cause of death of the suspect, 33-year-old Joshua W. Guttuso. Foltz said police saw Guttuso ingesting what they believe to be crack-cocaine.
Foltz said the chase began after a Slidell officer saw a 2008 White Ford Crew Cab F-250, which was stolen Friday, on Pontchartrain Drive. The truck sped on and didn't stop after the officer tried to pull him over, Foltz said, and the chase continued until Guttuso ran into a culvert.
Police tried to get Guttuso out of the car but he wouldn't come out, Foltz said, adding that police saw Guttuso ingesting the drugs at this time. After calling on a K-9 dog, police were able to get Guttuso out of the vehicle, but they had "to physically subdue the driver," Foltz said.
Foltz said it was at this point, while handcuffed and being taken to the police car, that Guttuso collapsed. He said officers tried to perform CPR until an ambulance arrived, but after paramedics transported Guttoso to the hospital, officials pronounced him dead on arrival.
Foltz said the
Slidell Police Chief Freddy Drennan did not speculate on the cause of death.
"I want to send my condolences to the young man's family and let them know that my thoughts and prayers are with them," said Drennan. "And I want all to know that we will fully investigate the incident and will not make any speculation as to why the young man died."
