A death investigation has been launched by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Force Investigations Unit (FIU) after a 29-year-old man died at the hospital, two days after being transported by officers.
District officers transported 29-year-old Mark Smith to the hospital on February 12th, 2026, following a disturbance call at 430 S. 15th Street.
Officers made contact with Smith at approximately 2:06 p.m. who had already been detained by security. Smith was combative, acting erratically and was in a delusional state yelling incoherently. Officers believed he was in need of medical attention.
At 2:11 p.m., officers requested an ambulance to transport Smith to the hospital but were advised that no ambulances were available and there would be a delay before EMS personnel could respond to assist. Due to Smith’s condition, officers transported him to the hospital in the back of a marked SLMPD transport van. During the transport to the hospital, the man continued to act erratically and then intentionally rammed his head into a metal screen of the transport van.
When officers arrived at the hospital, Smith was unconscious. Hospital staff notified the SLMPD he was in critical condition.
FIU detectives were contacted to initiate an investigation.
Smith died on February 14, 2026.
FIU detectives will conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation and prepare a full report.
