The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced on Mar. 9 that there is not enough evidence to bring federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against two Metropolitan Police Department officers involved in the death of a 56-year-old resident who died from a drug overdose while in police custody on July 22, 2025.
The decision follows a comprehensive review by both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division. The investigation included law enforcement and civilian accounts, Body Worn Camera footage, physical evidence, radio communications, forensic reports, autopsy and toxicology findings, and official police reports.
According to the evidence reviewed, Darrell Cox was arrested inside a convenience store on Martin Luther King Avenue after displaying erratic behavior outside and inside the store. When asked to leave by the store owner, Cox became involved in a minor altercation before being placed under arrest by two officers. While waiting for transport, Cox’s condition worsened and he was handed over to medical technicians when an ambulance arrived at the scene. He was transported to Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center where he became unconscious shortly after arrival; doctors were unable to revive him and he died at the hospital. An autopsy later determined that his death was accidental due to ingesting cocaine and phencyclidine (PCP).
Federal prosecutors concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any officer willfully violated Cox’s rights.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated it reviews all police-involved fatalities in Washington D.C. to determine if officers have violated federal or local laws. The office said it remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue dedicating resources so all serious civil rights allegations are fully investigated.
