Jonesboro police chief on Chavis Carter: Shooting yourself while handcuffed is 'very possible' and 'quite easy'

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Jonesboro, Arkansas police chief Michale Yates originally admitted that the alleged suicide of Chavis Carter while handcuffed in the back of a police car “defies logic.”  However, in a recent interview with CNN, Yates responded to a question as to whether it is even possible to shoot yourself while handcuffed by saying, “For the average person that’s never been in handcuffs, that’s never been around inmates and people in custody would react exactly the same way that you just did, about how can that be possible. Well the fact of it is, it’s very possible and it’s quite easy.”

Chavis Carter, 21, died from a gunshot wound to his head while handcuffed in the back of a police car. Jonesboro police officers Keith Baggett and Ron Marsh claim that even after having searched Carter twice for a weapon, the 21-year old was still able to pull out a concealed weapon and use it to commit suicide. The suspicious details of the case immediately raised the question: did Carter really shoot himself, or did one of the officers pull the trigger?

Forensic expert Dr. Michael Baden weighed in with theGrio and said he had “never heard this happen.”

Carter and two friends were pulled over by police in Arkansas. While the two white males Carter was traveling with were allowed to leave the scene, Carter was arrested for an outstanding warrant in Mississippi.

Watch the full interview with Jonesboro police chief Michale Yates here.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.