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Man Dies In State Police Custody After Arrest

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Nov 27, 2009 9:08 pm US/Eastern

Man Dies In State Police Custody After Arrest

NORTH ANDOVER (WBZ) ―

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The cause of death of a man who died following a struggle with state police is under investigation, Essex County district attorney's office spokesman Steve O'Connell announced Friday.

Kenneth Howe, 45, of Webster was a passenger in a car that stopped at a sobriety checkpoint on Route 114 in North Andover on Wednesday night.

According to another passenger in the car, Howe had lit a marijuana cigarette a short time before they came upon the checkpoint and was trying to put it out.

Police asked Howe to step out of the car. Instead of complying with the trooper's request, he jumped out the window, struck the officer and fled, said O'Connell.

After a short foot chase and a struggle, Howe was taken into custody and charged with assault and battery on a police officer.

Howe was transported to the Andover State Police Barracks, and while in the booking room, slumped over and became unresponsive.

He was taken to Lawrence General Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct further tests and await toxicology results to determine why the man died.

The incident is being investigated by state police detectives.

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