Coroner officially identifies Olympia man who died while in police custody

A 26-year-old Olympia man, who died while in custody during a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the death of his father, has been identified, the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office announced Monday.

The Cowlitz County Coroner identified him because he died after being taken into custody by Longview police earlier this month.

Although identified, a cause of death has not been determined for Forest N. Poplack, according to the coroner’s office.

“The cause and manner of death remain pending as additional investigation and testing are completed,” the coroner’s news release reads.

About 9 p.m. Friday, July 3, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a death investigation in the 3700 block of Wesley Loop Northwest, which is west of Cooper Point Road, The Olympian reported.

Once there, evidence at the scene indicated that a 49-year-old Olympia man died due to homicidal violence, according to the sheriff’s office.

David Poplack died due to multiple sharp injuries to the head and neck, Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said. He ruled his death a homicide, The Olympian reported.

On July 4, the younger Poplack was located in Cowlitz County and arrested by Longview police.

“Shortly after his arrest, the suspect suffered a medical emergency,” a news release reads. “Despite lifesaving efforts by law enforcement and emergency medical personnel, the suspect died.”

The Poplack family previously released a statement about the incident.

“Our family is grieving an unimaginable tragedy. On the evening of July 3rd, David Poplack lost his life during a severe and acute mental health crisis involving his son, Forest,” the statement said. “Forest passed away the following day due to a medical emergency while in police custody.

“This was a catastrophic mental health event. Forest was experiencing a profound psychiatric crisis, and the tragic outcome reflects the severity of that moment - not the nature of their relationship or the love within our family.

“David and Forest are survived by David’s parents, and by Forest’s sister and mother. The entire family is devastated by the loss of both a son and grandson, and a father and brother, within such a short time. We ask for compassion, respect, and privacy as we navigate this deeply painful time.”