Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Monday, August 17, 2009 4:01 pm

An autopsy showed an inmate who died Saturday after being admitted to jail Friday was not beaten to death, a state assistant medical examiner said Monday.

Inmate Andron R. Reed, 18, of Memphis, was arrested Friday afternoon on multiple charges after a high-speed pursuit with state troopers, one who described him as being “extremely high.”

Reed was admitted during the weekend to Middle Tennessee Medical Center where he died Saturday.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents, who are probing his death, questioned witnesses.

Dr. Amy McMaster, assistant state medical examiner, performed an autopsy on Reed’s body.

Cause of death is pending further studies for his blood and his tissue.

“He had some minor trauma that would be consistent with a struggle,” McMaster said. “He had no major trauma and did not die from trauma. He was not beaten to death.”

McMaster also intends to review video footage from the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center and any of Reed’s available medical records.

“I anticipate it will be 10 to 12 weeks,” McMaster said. “It could be sooner but that is an estimate.”

State Safety spokesman Mike Browning said Reed was driving Friday afternoon when Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Cummins found him traveling 86 mph in a 70 mph zone of Interstate 24 near the Almaville Road exit. Cummins got in pursuit of Reed.

State Trooper Michael Morgan joined the pursuit near the South Church Street exit.

Cummins’ arrest warrant obtained Friday night against Reed stated he refused to stop.

“He continued traveling at a high rate of speed and ran several vehicles out of their lane of travel,” Cummins reported.

Reed left the roadway near the Buchanan Road exit.

“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.