Man Who Died After Altercation in Snyder Had Heart Condition
By: Snyder Daily News
Updated: April 12, 2012
A preliminary autopsy report shows
that a Lufkin man who died in Snyder
following an altercation suffered from a
heart condition.
Thomas Colbert, 47, died in the street on March 26 after what police describe as a "minor physical altercation" with a 37-year-old man at the California Apartments.
Police have closed the investigation into the death and are awaiting an official cause of death ruling from Justice of the Peace Deborah Boyd.
"We have concluded all of our interviews and the case will be presented to the district attorney for review," said Snyder Police Chief Terry Luecke.
The altercation started at the apartment complex over an argument involving children and escalated into a verbal dispute.
The other man involved in the argument told investigators that he never struck Colbert, although he did attempt to engage him in a physical confrontation.
The testimony of numerous witnesses is consistent with the man's story, Luecke said. During the initial phase of the investigation, police indicated that there were no visible injuries on the victim.
Police have not released the name of the other subject involved in the altercation. He has not been arrested and is not facing charges at this point.
According to police, Colbert was in a vehicle when the confrontation began. He then exited the vehicle and ran down the street, making it three blocks before suffering from a seizure.
The victim was in town visiting his sister and was described by those who knew him as easygoing. His co-workers at a home for the mentally challenged in Lufkin said he suffered from a mild mental disability and needed help with basic tasks
Thomas Colbert, 47, died in the street on March 26 after what police describe as a "minor physical altercation" with a 37-year-old man at the California Apartments.
Police have closed the investigation into the death and are awaiting an official cause of death ruling from Justice of the Peace Deborah Boyd.
"We have concluded all of our interviews and the case will be presented to the district attorney for review," said Snyder Police Chief Terry Luecke.
The altercation started at the apartment complex over an argument involving children and escalated into a verbal dispute.
The other man involved in the argument told investigators that he never struck Colbert, although he did attempt to engage him in a physical confrontation.
The testimony of numerous witnesses is consistent with the man's story, Luecke said. During the initial phase of the investigation, police indicated that there were no visible injuries on the victim.
Police have not released the name of the other subject involved in the altercation. He has not been arrested and is not facing charges at this point.
According to police, Colbert was in a vehicle when the confrontation began. He then exited the vehicle and ran down the street, making it three blocks before suffering from a seizure.
The victim was in town visiting his sister and was described by those who knew him as easygoing. His co-workers at a home for the mentally challenged in Lufkin said he suffered from a mild mental disability and needed help with basic tasks
