Man who had violent encounter with Lexington County deputies last week dies

Red Bank, SC (Paul Kirby) – A man who had a violent encounter with several Lexington County deputies in a Red Bank neighborhood last week has died. According to Captain Adam Myrick and Coroner Margaret Fisher, Stephen Michael Gagliani, 34, passed Tuesday while at the Lexington Medical Center where he had been since the incident on September 18th.

Myrick said last week that deputies responded to Gagliani’s neighborhood after someone called to report him standing in the road. When deputies arrived, Gagliani became aggressive and non-compliant. Deputies had to use pepper spray and Tasers, both proven non-lethal tools, to subdue the subject and to get him under control. At some point during the encounter, Gagliani collapsed. Deputies provided first aid for Gagliani until paramedics from Lexington County arrived to transport him to the hospital. Several deputies also required treatment after the incident.

According to Sheriff Koon, when the deputies arrived on scene in the 200 block off Crestridge Drive, Gagliani became aggressive toward them causing them to react and attempt to subdue him. Gagliani was never charged with any crime and never left the hospital before he passed.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said that an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to determine the man’s cause of death. Sheriff Koon said Tuesday that in addition to the sheriff’s department’s internal review, he has asked SLED to investigate the incident. Both of the deputies are on paid administrative leave pending the result of the after-incident review.