September 17, 2019
GBI Investigates In Custody Death in Tifton
Tifton, GA (September 17, 2019) – On Saturday, September 14, 2019, the Tifton Police Department requested the GBI to investigate an in custody death.
Preliminary information indicates that on the evening of Saturday, September 14, 2019, the Tifton Police Department responded to a suspicious person call in the vicinity of 12th Street. While enroute to the area, an officer saw a male, identified as Christopher Caudle, age 37, riding a bicycle in the middle of the roadway. The officer stopped and made contact with Caudle. During a pat down of his clothing, suspected drugs were recovered, and Caudle was taken into custody. During transport to the Tift County Jail, Caudle became unresponsive at which time the officer removed Caudle from the patrol vehicle and began CPR. EMS was called and transported Caudle to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy was performed on Caudle at the GBI Crime Lab in Macon with results pending.
Once the investigation is completed, it will be turned over to the Tift Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.