Office of the Chief

John Romero,
Public Information
Officer
445 South Allison Parkway
Lakewood, Colorado 80226-3133
www.Lakewood.org

Statement from the Lakewood Police Department on Case LK09-037984

On 9/9/2009 a tragedy occurred in Lakewood regarding the death of Robert Rigg. Agents
first encountered Mr. Rigg after it was reported that he was involved in a hit and run
where he reportedly hit a bus, injuring six people.

When Agents caught up to Mr. Rigg, he was arrested without incident and placed in the
back of a patrol vehicle. During the moments leading up to the arrest, agents reported
seeing Mr. Riggs “staring straight ahead.”, “extremely sweaty” and pulling away from
agents. Mr. Rigg’s behavior prior to arrest was consistent with an April 2009 training
bulletin outlining possible signs of excited delirium.

As a Lakewood Agent began to transport Mr. Rigg, he immediately realized that Mr. Rigg
may have been having a medical episode. Paramedics were immediately called and met
the Agent on the side of the road. Life-saving efforts were made but unfortunately Mr.
Rigg died. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office ruled the cause of death as “due to
atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The manner of death is natural".

At no point did any member of the Lakewood Police Department use force on Mr. Rigg.
Mr. Rigg was never put in a prone position, tased or given any medication by Lakewood
personnel. Our agents were properly trained and up to all local, state and CALEA
(Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) standards.

Both an investigation and subsequent lawsuit showed no wrongdoing on the part of any
Lakewood Police personnel. The Agent involved did everything in his power to save Mr.
Rigg’s life as soon as it was apparent that Mr. Rigg was having a medical issue.

Following the incident in 2009, the Lakewood Police Department immediately underwent
training to assist agents in recognizing the difference between a medical emergency and
drug or alcohol intoxication. As the times change, so does police training. Crisis
Intervention Training (CIT) is regularly taught to sworn personnel, as is ever evolving
training in the custodial care of arrestees. Regardless of the underlying cause, Lakewood
Agents are trained to call for emergency medical responders any time they suspect
someone is suffering from a medical emergency.

To protect and serve with integrity, intelligence, and initiative

**Alternative formats of this document are available upon request**