Capitol Officer Brian Sicknick suffered two strokes after
January riot
Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick suffered a pair of strokes and ended up dying of natural causes after helping to combat rioters outside Congress in January, the DC medical examiner told an outlet Monday.
The cop — who had bear spray discharged in his face by protesters during the mayhem — had collapsed after he returned to his office that day and died about eight hours later.
Two men were charged last month with assaulting Sicknick with the spray — and a federal prober and second law-enforcement source told the Associated Press at the time that authorities were looking into whether the 42-year-old cop might have ingested the chemical substance, contributing to his death.
A hearse carrying the remains of US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick departs the US Capitol building in Washington, DC on February 03, 2021.
ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images
A US Capitol Police Officer holds a program as people pay their respects at the remains of US Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick as he lays in honor in the Rotunda of the US Capitol building on February 3, 2021.
DEMETRIUS FREEMAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
A placard is displayed with an image of the late U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick on it as people wait for an urn with his cremated remains to be carried into the U.S. Capitol.
Brendan Smialowski/Pool via AP, File
A hearse carrying the remains of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick makes its way to Arlington National Cemetery after Sicknick was lying in honor at the U.S Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021.
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Capitol Police are seen in Statuary Hall before a ceremony for the late Officer Brian Sicknick, as his remains lie in honor in the Rotunda on Wednesday, February 3, 2021.
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Sipa USA
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks during a ceremony memorializing U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, as an urn with his cremated remains lies in honor on a black-draped table at the center of the Capitol Rotunda, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021.
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But Francisco Diaz, the chief medical examiner for Washington, DC, told the Washington Post that there was no evidence Sicknick suffered a reaction to the chemical.
There also were no signs of external or internal injuries on the cop, Diaz said.
Still, “all that transpired played a role in his condition,” the ME said.
The Washington Post reported that the ME’s ruling of natural causes would make it harder to pursue homicide charges in Sicknick’s death.
Sicknick, a New Jersey native, had the pair of strokes at the base of his brain stem and died, the ME said, according to the Post.
He declined to comment on whether Sicknick had an pre-existing conditions, the outlet said.
