A former Jackson police officer accused of robbing at least five businesses in 24 hours died Tuesday at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith said.
Lawrence Epps in 2008, after his arrest in connection with the robbery of a Jackson credit union.
Jackson police said Lawrence Epps had been in the hospital since he was arrested last Thursday. Police said Epps took a large dose of pills in an attempt to commit suicide.
Epps died of respiratory failure as a result of a pharmaceutical overdose, the Hinds County coroner said.
At the time of the most recent robberies, Epps was out of jail on a $150,000 bond in connection with the April 2008 robbery of the Mississippi Public Employees Credit Union.
More than 10 years ago, Epps was a burglary detective with the Jackson Police Department. He was fired when he tested positive for cocaine, officials said.
