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Springfield, Illinois – On April 28, 2021, Jaimeson Cody, 39, of Divernon Illinois was pronounced deceased at Memorial Medical Center around 12:32 a.m. after being tased in the Sangamon County Jail.
According to documents we received, on April 27 around 12:52 a.m., Divernon Police Officers Thomas Hiatt and John Pearce were called to a Divernon apartment in response to a disturbance. During the 911 call, the victim, stated that her son Cody was “going crazy inside the house,” and “tearing up the residence.”
When officers arrived to the residence, they temporarily placed Cody in handcuffs after they noticed an eight inch vegetable knife laying on the counter. Officers spoke with Cody’s mom, who was described as visibly upset. She told Officer Pearce that Cody had grabbed her around the neck and pushed her into a door. She also mentioned that Cody had also grabbed the knife that was on the counter and lunged at her with a slashing motion, threatening to cut her. Officers reported that Cody’s mom didn’t have any visible lacerations, but did note that the area around her neck and collar bones was red and inflamed.
Cody was arrested and booked into the Sangamon County Jail at 1:21 a.m. on pending criminal charges of Aggravated Domestic Battery and Aggravated Assault with a Weapon. Before being booked into the Sangamon County Jail, Divernon officers reported that Cody was confused why he was being arrested, but made very little conversation.
According to follow up reports, Divernon Police Chief, Jason Martin, said he was contacted by Cody’s mom a few hours before Cody was pronounced deceased. At 11:30 a.m., Cody’s mom called Chief Martin and reported being scared that Cody was going to get out and come back to her home. Chief Martin told her that Cody couldn’t return to the home for a 72-hour period and recommended that she gets an order of protection. Cody’s mom also stated that she found a pipe in Cody’s bedroom and the pipe had a clear liquid in it. Chief Martin told her that although it was found in his room, it would be a non-probable evidence as it could not be proved to be Cody’s.
Later in the day, at approximately 11:40 p.m., according to Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Officer was conducting regular cell checks and observed Cody with what appeared to be blood on his jail issued uniform. Cody had been under close observation and in a cell alone. Officers attempted to determine if Cody had any injuries by talking to him and eventually entering the cell. He resisted attempts for officers (along with medical staff) to check him and their attempt to handcuff him for his safety. Tasers were deployed to the legs to gain control of him. After he was handcuffed he became unresponsive. Medical staff immediately began CPR and an AED was brought to the scene. EMS personnel arrived at the jail and took over CPR.
The next hour, at 12:32 a.m., Cody was pronounced deceased in the emergency room.
On April 29, at 9:36 a.m., Chief Martin returned a phone call to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon. According to Chief Martin, Coroner Allmon wanted an overview of Cody’s arrest. While Coroner Allmon was speaking with Chief Martin, he stated that when he went to deliver the Death notification, Cody’s mom stated she had found a pipe. Coroner Allmon said after taking a closer look, it was actually a butane lighter. Chief Martin also let Coroner Allmon know that on the day of Cody’s arrest, he also had a conversation with his mom about a pipe and baggie she had found. After further discussion, it was decided that with the death of Cody, those items would be collected and given to the Coroner’s office for further evaluation of what they may contain.
At 11:29 a.m., Chief Martin went and spoke to Cody’s mom at her residence. While speaking to her, she had two glass pipes with residue, and an empty small zip lock bag. Chief Martin, who was voluntarily given the items, placed them into separate clear plastic evidence bags and booked them in for evidence to be transferred to the Coroners office.
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According to Coroner Allmon, he tells us, “It may be a month or more before I get everything I need in front of me to determine the cause and manner of his death.”
At this time, The Illinois State Police and the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office are still investigating Cody’s death.