A Howard County police recruit who went into cardiac arrest shortly after a routine physical training exercise Wednesday died when blood clots cut off oxygen to his lungs, a doctor who performed the autopsy said yesterday.
Family and friends of Roger Dale Cassell Jr., a 28-year-old former Army soldier who served in the Persian Gulf war, said he was in good health and they were baffled by his sudden death after a two-mile run with 25 other members of a recruit class at the Howard County Police Academy.
Medical officials attributed Mr. Cassell's death to pulmonary thromboembolism, a condition in which particles broken off from blood clots forming in other parts of the body are carried through the blood stream to the arteries supplying the lungs. The particles block the arteries and cut off oxygen supplied to the lungs. The condition is unusual, but medical officials say it can suddenly appear in an otherwise healthy person.
"He was in great shape," said his brother, Officer Robert Cassell, 24, who graduated in the December 1993 academy class. "It was a big shock."
Mr. Cassell was in the sixth week of a six-month training program at the academy.
Police provided critical stress debriefing for recruits and officers at the academy class in the Gateway Building in the 6700 block of Gateway Drive yesterday morning.
Mr. Cassell, elected by peers as a class leader, was following in the career path of his brother, Robert, and his father, state police Sgt. Roger Dale Cassell Sr., a 25-year veteran working in the Criminal Investigations Division.
"He will obviously be missed by us all," said recruit Christopher Johanson. "He will always be a member of Class 17," the name given to his class at the academy.
"He was just a real decent guy," said Lt. Jay Zumbrun, commander of education and training.
According to police, Mr. Cassell and other recruits finished their inside classes Wednesday afternoon, changed clothes and prepared for their tri-weekly, 20-minute, two-mile run with calisthenics.
Academy members ran at their own pace around the industrial development near the academy, with the 6-foot, 200-pound Mr. Cassell finishing the jog near the end of the group, said academy training coordinator Cpl. Mike Price, who runs with the class. "Everyone seemed fine and they were dismissed," he said. Recruits went inside to the locker room and returned to their cars, others took a break in the parking lot. About 3:45 p.m., Mr. Cassell collapsed in the lot, and received CPR from other recruits.
Fire Department personnel from inside the Gateway Building headquarters, accompanied by rescue squads from Long Reach and Savage stations, arrived minutes later and took over resuscitation efforts, said Lt. Dan Merson, a fire and rescue spokesman.
Mr. Cassell was taken by ambulance to the Howard County General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:49 p.m.
Dr. Ann Dixon, deputy chief medical examiner, said the condition that killed Mr. Cassell is a sudden malfunction that can happen to anyone but is more frequent with people who get poor circulation because they are immobilized due to injury or illness. Symptoms can include shortness of breath and sharp chest pains, she said.
"It's not a common condition; it's very dramatic," Dr. Dixon said. "You either have symptoms or, if it's big enough, you can die suddenly."
Mr. Cassell, who lived in the 5800 block of Whisper Way in Elkridge, passed a physical examination to get into the police academy. But Dr. Dixon said the condition can easily go undetected. "It can happen out of the blue," she said. "But in a healthy active individual with no symptoms, it's very unusual."
Mr. Cassell, who was single, earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from the University of Baltimore, where graduated in December 1993.
Department Chairwoman Kathy Block, who taught Mr. Cassell's juvenile justice and criminal law classes, said he was a solid student on a mission to succeed in law enforcement.
"He had very definite career plans," Ms. Block said. "It was a shame it was cut short."
Mr. Cassell spent 3 1/2 years with the Army military police, securing Iraqi prisoners of war during Operation Desert Storm.
His hobbies included basketball and flag football.
But he spent most of his energy enthusiastically pursuing a career as a Howard County police officer.
"He was loving it," Officer Robert Cassell said. "He waited a long time. I wish he could have seen it through."
A viewing will be held today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services for Mr. Cassell are scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home of Elkridge Inc. at 5695 Main St. Internment will be at Meadowridge Cemetery, 7250 Washington Blvd.