Cause sought in arrest death

• By KIMBERLY VETTER
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Nov 4, 2009 - Page: 1B

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Investigators have yet to determine how an armed robbery suspect died Friday after he fled and fought with police trying to arrest him.

Keltron Charles Singleton’s cause of death is undetermined, pending the results of toxicology tests and microscopic studies of his internal organs, said Raymond Levie, chief of investigations for the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office.

A physical examination of Singleton’s body did not reveal any trauma or disease that could have caused his death, Levie said. The test and study results will “reveal the whole picture,” he said, adding that the results should be back in four to six weeks.

Levie declined further comment other than to say that Singleton’s body was released to his family Monday.

Singleton’s mother, Davelyn Martin, also declined comment and referred any questions to attorney Robert Tucker, whom she said she retained because of her son’s death.

Tucker did not return messages left at his office and on his cell phone Tuesday.

Singleton, 30, of Baton Rouge, died at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center about two hours after struggling with police, authorities have said.

The struggle — which included the use of a stun gun — occurred after Singleton ran from two officers who wanted to question him about two armed robberies near College and Lee drives, Lt. Charles Armstrong said.

He said the officers approached Singleton at 9:30 p.m. Friday in the 5100 block of Highland Road because he was wearing clothing that matched the description of the suspect in both robberies.

After a brief chase, the two officers caught Singleton at 5151 Highland Road, he said.

One of the officers shot Singleton with a stun gun, but the two officers were unable to get control of him, Armstrong said. Control was not gained until other officers arrived.

Baton Rouge Emergency Medical Services paramedics were called to the scene “for injuries suffered during the struggle,” police spokesman Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said.

While Singleton was being treated for his injuries, he “started to experience a medical problem,” Armstrong said. Singleton was taken to the hospital where he later died.