Highway Patrol investigating Rolla traffic stop death

ROLLA, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a man who died after he was stopped by Phelps County sheriff's deputies for a traffic violation.

Preliminary autopsy results show that Jimmy Dwayne Farris, 38, had an enlarged heart and suffered a fractured rib, a lung contusion and swelling of the brain, Phelps County Coroner Larry Swinfard said Monday. The lung and rib injuries were likely the result of efforts to revive Farris, the coroner said.

"That was probably done with the resuscitation," he told The Associated Press.

A complete autopsy won't be available for several weeks, pending toxicology results.

Farris, a single father of two girls, was stopped by a Phelps County deputy the night of April 12. According to a sheriff's department news release, Farris "became combative" and "went into respiratory distress" while being subdued. He was transported to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The Highway Patrol inquiry is standard procedure, said Phelps County Sheriff Don Blankenship.

"Anytime we have a death, we want an outside agency to investigate so it doesn't look like a cover-up," he said.

No disciplinary action has been taken against the responding deputy or two other deputies who later responded to the call, Blankenship said. Two Rolla city officers and a University of Missouri-Rolla security officer also assisted.

"Initial statements from witnesses did not indicate any problems with our officers," the sheriff said.

The state trooper leading the investigation did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Monday.

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Information from: Rolla Daily News, http://www.rolladailynews.com