Man charged with killing officer dies in custody

Associated Press

June 30, 2008

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UPPER MARLBORO - Prince George's County officials are investigating the death of a 19-year-old man who had been charged in the killing of a county police officer.

Vicki Duncan, a Prince George's County jail spokeswoman, said Ronnie Lionel White of Laurel was found unconscious in his cell yesterday morning. She said he was taken to Prince George's Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Duncan said White was alone in his cell and there was no sign of trauma.

Police said White was the driver of a pickup that struck 39-year-old Cpl. Richard Findley on Friday. Officials said Findley was monitoring the suspected stolen truck on Laurel-Bowie Road when several men returned to the vehicle. Police said the pickup rammed Findley's cruiser during an attempted traffic stop, then hit the officer when he got out of the cruiser.

He was pronounced dead at Laurel Regional Hospital.

White was charged with first-degree murder and moved to the Prince George's County Correctional Center early Saturday.

Officers said White was alert yesterday, but when they brought his lunch about 10:30 a.m., he was sitting unresponsive on the floor of the cell. Emergency crews tried to revive him before taking him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:39 a.m.

Police classified White as a "high-profile offender." According to court records, White pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm last year, and in another case, to drug possession. In 2006, he was charged with first-degree assault and armed robbery, but the case was dropped, records show. In November, he was sentenced to more than six months in prison. It was unclear when he was released.

Vernon Herron, Prince George's County public safety director, has called for police to investigate the death. Officials with the county Corrections Department have ordered an internal investigation.

Funeral services for Findley are scheduled for Thursday.