Man Dies After Overdosing During Transport to Jail

A Portland, Tennessee, man was arrested last week, and began overdosing during his transport to the Macon County Jail. He later died in the hospital.

A report regarding the incident was written by Sergeant Friar and states the following:

On 4/27/2025 at about 7:24 p.m., I, Sgt Friar was parked stationary at Gravely Hill Baptist Church when I observed a black Ford Focus pass my location, as the vehicle passed my location I was unable to see the driver due to the window tint being extremely dark tinted.

Upon approaching the vehicle I spoke to the driver who I knew to be Stevie Summer and advised him to roll his window up so I could test the window tint. Upon testing the window tint with my Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security window tint comparison card the window tint on the vehicle was darker than the state law 35%. The window tint was later checked with a tint meter and measured 12%. As Mr. Summer was obtaining his vehicle information I noticed his hands to be shaking uncontrollably and to be breathing heavy.

As I was issuing Mr. Summer a citation for the window tint. K-9 Deputy Berry was advised to deploy his K-9 partner Ghost to conduct a free air sniff off the exterior of the vehicle. K-9 Ghost did positively alert to the driver’s side door.

Upon conducting a probable cause search of the vehicle small pieces of methamphetamine were located in the driver’s seat. As K-9 Deputy Berry was searching the trunk of the vehicle he located a yellow dollar general bag concealed behind the carpet. Inside the dollar general bag was a clear bag containing a large amount of a crystal like substance (15 ounces, 420 grams). From my training and experience the crystal like substance appeared to be methamphetamine.

Mr. Summer was handcuffed in the back and was placed under arrest. I then escorted Mr. Summer to my patrol car. During the investigation I walked back to my patrol car to make sure Mr. Summer was secured in the vehicle, as I approached the vehicle I observed Mr. Summer’s to have moved his hand cuffs to his front. Upon opening the door I observed Mr. Summer to have his hands placed to his side as if he was concealing something as I began asking Mr. Summer what he was doing he immediately lunged at me then pushed me in attempt to escape. Mr. Summer was placed back in the vehicle after a short scuffle in sued.

Mr. Summer was then transported to the Macon County Sheriffs Office. During the transport Mr. Summer advised the transporting Deputy Lopata that he was overdosing. Deputy Lopata rushed Mr. Summer to the Hospital where hospital staff immediately administered Narcan upon arrival. I was advised by Deputy Lopata that hospital staff located two clear baggies containing a white powder substance inside Mr. Summer’s mouth with both bags being partially opened.

I was advised a short time later that Mr. Summer had been pronounced deceased. This did occur in Macon County TN.