Jacksonville DUI suspect dies after trying to swallow baggies

Jacksonville, FL — A man suspected of driving under the influence has died, after he was arrested by Jacksonville police and tried to swallow baggies of what could be drugs.

JSO Director Ron Lendvay says this all started around 10 PM Sunday, when a patrol officer conducted a traffic stop on a suspected impaired driver at West 13th and Wilson. Another officer responded, when the first officer requested back-up.

The driver was 45-year-old Rudolph Gipson, and JSO says he appeared to be concealing something in his mouth during the field sobriety test. JSO asked him if there was anything in his mouth, but Gipson allegedly shook his head, without verbally responding.

Gipson was arrested for DUI. JSO says officers continued to ask if he was concealing anything in his mouth, and then he appeared to try to swallow something. After that, we’re told the suspect started coughing up blood.

Lendvay says the suspect was taken to the hospital, where two baggies of a white substance were taken from his throat. The substance is still pending testing to determine what it is. Gipson died in the hospital Monday morning, although the cause of death is still under investigation. JSO says it’s not yet clear whether Gipson swallowed more than the two baggies or if one of the baggies may have been compromised.

Gipson has a long history of arrests, according to JSO, including an arrest in February for battery on a law enforcement officer, tampering with evidence, and possession of various drugs and paraphernalia.

The two officers involved in the arrest have been placed on leave, per JSO protocol.