A 41-year-old Bloomingdale man died on Wednesday after swallowing what investigators believe was methamphetamine during a traffic stop in Van Buren County, according to authorities.
The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office said members of its Narcotics Unit and Uniform Response Division spotted a pickup truck committing several traffic violations just before 10 a.m.
Detectives said they also recognized the driver, identified as Nathan Matthews, as someone believed to be driving on a suspended license.
Deputies pulled the truck over and reported seeing Matthews swallow an unknown substance before taking a drink from a beverage. As officers walked toward the vehicle, they said Matthews appeared to consume a second batch of the substance.
Traffic Stop Turns Into Medical Emergency
Once Matthews was taken out of the truck, detectives noticed what appeared to be narcotics residue on his shirt and on the vehicle’s seat. Matthews denied swallowing anything or having illegal drugs in his possession, even after being questioned multiple times.
A search of the pickup turned up additional material that investigators said was consistent with methamphetamine. Given the circumstances, deputies decided to take Matthews to Bronson LakeView Hospital as a precaution rather than straight to jail.
That decision proved critical. Officers said Matthews became unresponsive as he was being walked into the emergency department. Deputies quickly gave him two doses of Narcan while hospital staff moved in to begin emergency treatment.
Despite those efforts, doctors at the hospital pronounced Matthews dead a short time later.
State Police Called In for Independent Review
Because the death happened while Matthews was in law enforcement custody, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office asked the Michigan State Police to lead an independent investigation into what happened. Officials described this as standard protocol anytime someone dies in custody, meant to ensure an outside agency examines the case rather than the department involved.
Once state police finish their investigation, the findings will be handed over to the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office, which will review the case and determine whether any further action is warranted. Authorities have not said how long that review is expected to take.
So far, investigators have not released additional details about what exactly Matthews ingested beyond the suspected methamphetamine found in his truck, and toxicology results are likely still pending.
The case has drawn attention locally as another example of the dangers tied to attempts to hide narcotics during police encounters, a scenario that can turn fatal within minutes even when officers respond quickly with lifesaving measures like Narcan.
No further updates have been released as of Thursday.
