Pubdate: Wed, 18 Mar 2009
Source: Eagle Valley News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Sicamous Eagle Valley News
Contact:  http://www.eaglevalleynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4362

REVELSTOKE MAN FOUND DEAD IN CELL

Police Continue To Investigate Sicamous-Area Connection.

A Revelstoke resident who was charged with possession of a controlled 
substance with intent to deliver following his arrest by the U.S. 
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) was found dead in his Spokane County 
Jail cell Friday, Feb. 27.

The man, 24 year-old Samuel Jackson Lindsay-Brown, was arrested by 
DEA agents on Feb. 23 after he allegedly flew 150 kilograms of 
marijuana into Colville National Forest in Washington State. 
Lindsay-Brown was arrested after a rendezvous with undercover DEA 
agents just south of the Canadian border.

According to Sicamous RCMP, Lindsay-Brown was flying a Bell 206 
helicopter stolen from the Malakwa area. The helicopter, which was 
owned by Gorge Timber Corp. of Malakwa, was reported stolen on the 
morning of Feb. 25 by Colin Martin of Gorge Timber.

In a phone interview, Martin confirmed the helicopter was stolen from 
Gorge Timber Corp., and that he knew Lindsay-Brown personally.

"As I said to the RCMP officer, Sam's truck was in the lot where the 
helicopter was, and I said, 'If Sam does have something to do with 
this, it's very out of character from the Sam that I know,'" said Martin.

Martin said he and others who knew Lindsay-Brown want to know what 
happened in the days leading up to his death.

"What happened to Sam in the days that he was down there?" asked 
Martin. "Did somebody go in and say, 'Gee, this has got to be a 
pretty overwhelming thing for you Sam? What happened?' My heart goes 
out to Sam's family, we're all reeling from this."

Sicamous RCMP have confirmed they are investigating the theft of the 
helicopter, but that they were not involved in the DEA investigation 
and subsequent arrest.

An official from the Spokane County Medical Examiner's office said 
that autopsy reports indicate Lindsay-Brown hanged himself in his 
jail cell on the afternoon of Feb. 27 using a bed sheet.

Sgt. David Regan of the Spokane County Jail said he was unable to 
comment on Lindsay-Brown's death, citing an ongoing investigation by 
the Spokane Police Department.

Lindsay-Brown was well known in the mountain biking community. 
Members of the NSMB.com mountain biking forum have created a tribute 
to Lindsay-Brown, who was featured heavily in the 2002 mountain 
biking film New World Disorder III.

Members of the forum posted condolences to Lindsay-Brown's friends 
and family, as well as expressing skepticism surrounding the 
circumstances of Lindsay-Brown's death.

"There seems to be a fair bit of skepticism on whether or not that 
really was what happened," wrote one forum user.

Others who knew Lindsay-Brown responded with short tributes to the 
"fallen rider."

"He's held a special place in our lives. Done a lot for riding 
communities in our area, and was a great friend to all of us ... Sam, 
your life has touched us all, you will be remembered as one who 
pushed the sport and touched our lives," wrote another.

Repeated calls to both the Spokane Police Department and the Drug 
Enforcement Administration were not returned.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart