South Carolina Deputy Collapses During Arrest

**PapaBear** · 12-15-07, 01:15 PM

Richland County Sheriff's Department
Deputy Darral Lane

BRYCE MURSCH
Courtesy of WIS-TV

A Richland County deputy died of a heart attack while trying to arrest three people after a chase Friday morning.

Deputy Darral Lane, 41, died from cardiac arrest. According to the coroner, Lane had a heart attack brought on by the stress of the incident.

A manhunt for the last of three men involved in the chase, who authorities have identified as 34-year-old Matthew Denny Hooks, has been called off, since officials know the name of who they are looking for.

Sheriff Leon Lott said Deputy Lane was conducting an investigation into a suspicious vehicle that was occupied and parked behind the Pitt Stop Convenience Store at 5820 Fairfield Road.

Deputy Lane approached the vehicle and it sped out of the parking lot. A chase ensued, which ended behind a home on Burton Street.

The sheriff stated that the driver of the vehicle fled into the woods while Deputy Lane secured the two passengers.

Sheriff Lott stated that after handcuffing one of the suspects, the deputy collapsed.

Lott added that Deputy Lane was transported to Palmetto Health where he was pronounced dead at 6:30 AM.

"The hardest part about this situation is the fact that we have an officer that is now deceased," said Lt. Chris Cowan. "This officer, as he stopped the vehicle, he got out of his vehicle, went to apprehend the three suspects, one of which he handcuffed. As he handcuffed the first suspect, he collapsed there on the scene and was pronounced dead this morning at approximately 6:30."

The two other men initially escaped. One of the two men who got away was taken into custody later Friday morning, around 10am. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says no charges will be filed against those two.

Lott says deputies are still looking for the driver of the car - 34-year-old Matthew Denny Hooks, who has been charged with failure to stop for police.

Deputy Lane had managed to handcuff one man before he collapsed. Lott says that man tried to help Lane even though he was handcuffed.

"This is a a tragic situation for the family of the Richland County Sheriff's Department," said Lt. Cowan.

"We have an officer - one of our own - that has died. And again, this is a situation where words can't describe what we're going through, what his family is going through," Cowan continued.

Lane retired from the Army after 20 years of service and joined the sheriff's department in February, 2006, where he was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division.

Deputy Lane leaves behind a wife, Sheila, and two sons, Darryl Jr. and Davis.

If you have any information, call 911.

Republished with permission of WIS-TV.
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RIP Deputy Lane....