Savannah, GA - The Georgia Bureau of investigation is conducting a use of force investigation at the Chatham County Jail after 21-year-old Matthew Ajibade died in police custody. On Thursday, January 1, 2015, Mathew Ajibade was arrested by officers of the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department. Ajibade was charged with one count of battery (domestic violence), and one count of obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Ajibade was transported to the Chatham County Jail.

Chatham County Sheriff's deputies attempted to book and process Ajibade on the previously mentioned charges. Ajibade resisted and began to fight with deputies. Force was used to restrain Ajibade. Deputies were injured during the altercation. Ajibade was confined to a restraint chair and, subsequently, found unresponsive by deputies. Ajibade was later pronounced dead by Chatham County Coroner Sarah Smith.

Ajibade's body was transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Medical Examiner's Office in Decatur, Georgia, where an autopsy was performed on Tuesday, December 6, 2015. Other laboratory testing is pending; therefore, the cause of death is yet to be determined.

The investigation is on-going.

Contact Information:

SAC Cathy Sapp 912-871-1121