A North Carolina tribal police officer died after suffering a medical emergency while helping to catch a suspect last week.

Cherokee Indian Police Det. Jeff Smith and another officer were chasing a fleeing suspect on foot on Oct. 23 when the incident happened, the Bureau of Indian Affairs stated in a social media post. The suspect tried to escape by jumping into a river, but police were able to apprehend him.

As Smith was helping to pull the suspect up the riverbank, he suffered a medical emergency. Smith was rushed to the hospital, where he later died, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, which said Smith had suffered a fatal heart attack.

"Jeff Smith was someone who wasn't part of our tribe that had come in and loved our tribe," Assistant Police Chief Josh Taylor told WLOS-TV. "Jeff Smith came in every day with a smile on his face. Jeff Smith was a good man. Jeff Smith knew my kids; I knew Jeff Smith's kids. Jeff is the type of man that you would call if you needed help with something day or night; he'd be there."

Smith had been with the department since 2011. Before that, he served with the National Park Service and the Swain County Sheriff's Office.