Kane County State’s Attorney: Elgin Police Not At Fault For Death Of Inmate While In Custody

During the evening of January 20, 2023, Elgin police officers arrested 20-year-old Patryk Lankamer for multiple weapons and drug offenses. The arrest of Mr. Lankamer was captured on body-worn or squad cameras. He was taken to jail in Elgin.

Two days later, Lankamer was found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead.

While in the Elgin jail, multiple cameras recorded Mr. Lankamer during his booking and detention process with the exception of when he was in his individual cell.

Because Mr. Lankamer died while in custody at the Elgin Police Department, the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force investigated the incident. By Illinois statute, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser reviewed the findings of the investigation and all evidence obtained, including witness accounts.

Today, Mosser announced her determination that Elgin Police Department personnel acted properly and followed department policy for the duration of a suspect’s incarceration from the evening of January 20, 2023 until January 22, 2023.

Mosser concluded that the evidence supports Mr. Lankamer’s cause of death being deemed accidental, the result of an ingestion of cocaine and fentanyl.

“There is no evidence or indication that any Elgin Police Department employee committed an unlawful act or failed to follow any policy or law,” Mosser said in a statement. “The investigation shows that Elgin police personnel acted within the law and followed department procedure during their investigation, Mr. Lankamer’s arrest, and throughout his stay in the department lockup. My thanks to the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force for their thorough investigation and to the department staff and paramedics who attempted to revive Mr. Lankamer.”

An autopsy by the Kane County Coroner’s Office revealed two bags of illegal narcotics on Mr. Lankamer’s person – .3 grams of cocaine and 5 grams of fentanyl. Chemical testing revealed that he had high levels of cocaine and fentanyl in his system. His cause of death was ruled accidental due to cocaine and fentanyl intoxication.

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office closed the matter upon issuance of the report.