Hickory police say a man who died while they were attempting to take him into custody may have ingested an unknown quantity of narcotics prior to encountering police on Monday in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn on Lenoir Rhyne Blvd. 41 year old Matthew Saunders died after being tased and scuffling with police trying to arrest him. Officers on the scene administered an overdose reversal drug to Saunders. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Catawba County EMS.
Cause of death will be confirmed in the upcoming weeks when toxicology and autopsy reports are received.
