A man died while in custody in the White County Sheriff’s Department Thursday afternoon, December 27, after a rollover wreck on Highway 70 in KeKalb County that morning.

The man’s identity had not been released pending an investigation from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which was requested by 13th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway.

“Given that he died while in custody, we requested that the TBI look into it,” Dunaway said. “Right now, his body has been sent off for an autopsy.”

TBI public information officer Leslie Farhart released a statement regarding the death.

“Preliminary information indicates a vehicle crashed and rolled over in DeKalb County,” Earhart said. “A passenger from the vehicle was located just over the county line in White County. Initial reports indicate that when White County deputies attempted to detain the individual, he started to assault the officers, and a taser was deployed.

“The subject was handcuffed and transported to the jail. When the deputy arrived at the jail, the individual was unresponsive. He was transported to the White County Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.”

Earhart said the investigation is ongoing.

The report from Tennessee Highway Patrol states the accident in DeKalb County involved only one vehicle, driven by Lakean Woods, 27, of Rock Island.

The deceased man was a passenger.

“The vehicle exited the roadside on the left where it struck a rock embankment,” the report states.

“The vehicle then overturned and crossed back over the road on its top. The vehicle then struck another rock embankment on the right side of the roadway where it came to a rest.”

Woods was injured and airlifted to Skyline Medical Center in Nashville.

Woods was also charged with reckless driving, financial responsibility, possession of a Schedule II drug and driving with a suspended license.