Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 1:15 pm

An 18-year-old inmate died of natural causes Aug. 15 after being in custody at the Rutherford County Adult Detention, an autopsy showed.

Inmate Andron R. Reed of Memphis was booked into the jail on multiple charges after a high-speed pursuit and struggle Aug. 14 with Tennessee Highway Patrol Troopers Michael Cummins and Michael Morgan.

He was taken from the jail to Middle Tennessee Medical Center where he later died. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents investigated his death.

Dr. Amy McMaster, assistant state medical examiner, said Reed’s body showed some signs of minor trauma consistent with a struggle but no major trauma.

“He was not beaten to death,” Dr. McMaster said.

Dr. Master ruled cause of death was fibromuscular dysplasia of the small coronary artery. She was not available for comment.

The Fibromuscular Dysplasia Society of America defined dysplasia as abnormal cellular development or growth involving the walls of the arteries. Cause is unknown but may be genetic.

Sheriff Truman Jones said he had no comment about the autopsy report.

At the time, state safety spokesman Mike Browning said Reed was driving when Cummins found him traveling 86 mph in a 70 mph zone of Interstate 24 near the Almaville Road exit. Cummins and Morgan got in pursuit of Reed.

Cummins’ arrest warrant obtained Friday night against Reed stated he refused to stop and ran several vehicles off the road.

“When the driver came back onto the roadway, he struck the right side of a (commercial motor vehicle) trailer occupied by John Martino, the driver, and Vicenta Cruz, the passenger,” Cummins reported. “The driver traveled back off of the roadway to the right and came to a final rest.”

Reed and his brother, Artavius R. Reed, a passenger, fled on foot. After a brief pursuit, they were both apprehended.

“Andron was extremely high,” Cummins stated. “His eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred. Andron resisted arrest by biting both (Cummins) and THP Trooper Michael Morgan.”

Cummins charged him with two counts of felony evading arrest, two counts of felony reckless endangerment, DUI, resisting arrest and assault of Cummins and Morgan. Cummins charged his brother with resisting arrest.