Cause of death uncertain after man crashes, fights Grundy deputies
From Grundy Sheriff/Facebook
GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A man crashed in Grundy County, fought officers and later died while in custody, according to the Grundy County Sheriff.
The crash happened on the morning of May 29, 2024 on Sherrell Road in Pelham, Tennessee.
The sheriff’s office identified the man involved as Ronnie Ledbetter. They said he was fighting with EMS personnel and was later combative with sheriff’s deputies.
Deputies believed Ledbetter was “heavily intoxicated” on some type of narcotic.
EMS on scene cleared Ledbetter and released him into police custody. Deputies had to swap patrol units for transport because they said he was “trying to kick the glass out of the unit, along with head butting the glass.”
Deputies said they took him to the Grundy County Jail, where he continued to fight and resist.
However, they said once he was in a jail cell, deputies noticed he had stopped breathing. The sheriff said they then began CPR, administered Narcan and placed an AED on him. An ambulance then took him to Sewanee Hospital.
The sheriff’s office said Ledbetter was pronounced dead at the hospital.
His official cause of death has not been revealed yet.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and district attorney’s office is now investigating the incident.
Additionally, the sheriff said they learned Ledbetter was a registered sex offender out of Franklin County, who identified him as an escape risk.
