There was no foul play and no crime committed in the death of an inmate while in Excelsior Springs Police Department (ESPD) custody, a Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigation has concluded. The Clay County Sheriff’s Investigative Squad was called to investigate the death of Benjamin E. Chase, 21, who died on May 8 while in custody at the Excelsior Springs City Jail. Chase had been arrested May 7 on a city and a county warrant, with bond for the municipal charge of failure to appear in court set at $1,500 and bond for two county weapons-related charges set at $50,000. ESPD Chief Greg Dull said he requested the investigation “for transparency and accountability” to the public. Many departments request outside reviews of unusual circumstances for the same reasons, Dull said. Led by sheriff’s office personnel, the county investigation group “included investigators from three other Clay County law enforcement agencies, excluding ...