A Buford man has died following an arrest after Lumpkin County deputies responded to a call concerning a suspicious individual. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the deputies arrived around 2 a.m. last Friday at the Publix parking lot, where they spotted the man who then proceeded to drive off erratically towards the north end of the county. Driving erratically, the deputy arrived on the scene. The man, later identified as Jacob Karl Wilkerson, age 36, was taken into custody shortly after the pursuit.
Wilkerson's condition took a turn for the worse after being arrested, necessitating medical attention. He was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by Emergency Medical Services. Unfortunately, Wilkerson later died at the hospital under circumstances not immediately clear. As conveyed by authorities and reported by AccessWDUN, the cause of death is currently unknown and is awaiting determination by the county coroner through an autopsy. No foul play is suspected by the sheriff's office in relation to the arrest.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was notified about the incident but declined to investigate further. The reason given was the absence of direct interaction between law enforcement and Wilkerson that would contribute to his death. The Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office supported this statement, as body camera footage reviewed provided no evidence of such an interaction.
Further proceedings hinge on the final autopsy report. The sheriff’s office announced that the Lumpkin County District Attorney's Office has been notified and will review the autopsy results once they are available. According to the statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta, the sheriff’s office is in the process of completing its own review. The body has been taken to the Lumpkin County Coroner's Office for the autopsy, since there was no interaction with law enforcement personnel, according to the sheriff's office.
