Suspect dies after swallowing suspected drugs, according to Sumter County sheriff

A man who was arrested Thursday morning died at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital after he swallowed what appeared to be a plastic bag of drugs before he was booked at the jail, Sumter County's sheriff confirmed.
Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker identified the man as 42-year-old Larry Hunt of Boulevard Road in Sumter. Next of kin have been notified, he said.
Sheriff Anthony Dennis said Hunt was arrested about 8 a.m. when deputies executed a search warrant at Hunt's residence regarding narcotics violations.
Hunt was charged with 10 counts of distribution of heroin and one count of trafficking heroin, Dennis said. His arrest was the result of an investigation that had been going on for some time.
After arriving at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center, Dennis said, the transporting officer noticed Hunt was acting strange and seemed to be sick; so, the officer called for medical assistance.
Hunt fell unresponsive during the process of being booked, Baker said.
He had not been booked as an inmate at that time, Dennis said.
Hunt was transported to the hospital, formerly called Palmetto Health Tuomey, by Sumter County EMS where he died, according to Baker and Dennis.
Dennis said the substance in the bag will be analyzed to help determine what led to his death.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating this incident, Baker said, and, an autopsy will be performed at a later date at the Medical University of South Carolina.