A MAN died of an apparent drug overdose following a standoff with Monroe County sheriff’s deputies.

On Thursday, Sheriff Charles Black posted a description of the events that occurred Sunday on his department’s Facebook page. The incident occurred in Adams Township, which is located in the northeastern part of Monroe County.

According to Black’s post, the suspect learned that deputies were conducting an investigation of him on Sunday. Black wrote that, as a result, the man stole a truck and a loaded shotgun from a residence and fled the area.

A sergeant with the department located the truck and attempted to speak with the suspect. He also ordered the man to exit the vehicle, but the man apparently did not comply and “a standoff ensued,” according to the post.

“Hostage negotiators spoke with the suspect on the phone, however, the suspect would not surrender himself and began cursing at deputies,” Black wrote. “When all attempts for surrender were exhausted less lethal gas was deployed on the vehicle, but also was unsuccessful.”

The suspect apparently told a hostage negotiator that he had taken narcotics and was going “in and out.”

About two hours after the standoff began, the suspect began to show signs of narcotic use, exhibiting what appeared to be involuntary movements. At that point, the post states, he also began brandishing the firearm.

When deputies believed the man had dropped the weapon from the driver’s side window, they decided to approach the driver’s side door using a ballistic shield. It became apparent that the man still had possession of the gun, but deputies were able to gain control of it and remove it from him, Black wrote.

According to the post, when deputies tried to enter the vehicle, the man began fighting them and resisting arrest.

“During this time, the individual made an attempt to take off in the vehicle and flee from deputies. As a result, a Taser was deployed, which did not have any effect on the suspect,” Black posted. “…The suspect was eventually removed from the vehicle and continued to fight deputies while on the ground. During the course of the arrest, the suspect became unresponsive and deputies began administering Narcan, as well as first aid.”

An emergency medical squad was called to the scene, where the man was pronounced dead.

Black noted that a bag containing a white substance was found in the vehicle occupied by the suspect.

An autopsy of the man was completed Tuesday by the Licking County Coroner’s Office. According to Black, it found the preliminary cause of death to be a drug overdose combined with pre-existing health conditions.

The man’s name was not released. Black wrote that the investigation is ongoing, and that information will be forwarded to the county prosecutor for review.