Elk Grove Police Release Details on Death of In-custody Suspect Following Four Vehicle Crash; Identity Revealed

December 1, 2016 |

Elk Grove Police released additional information this afternoon regarding the vehicle accident that resulted in the death of a suspect after his apprehension.

The incident started at 9:59 last night when Elk Grove Police observed a white pickup truck being driven in the wrong direction in the westbound lanes of Elk Grove Boulevard. Officers immediately relayed this information to the dispatch center and requested that officers respond to the area.

Prior to the officers’ observations of the wrong-way driver, the dispatch center had received a call at 9:57 regarding a white pickup truck that was observed running red lights and swerving at Laguna Boulevard and Bruceville Road. As the white pickup truck continued driving towards oncoming traffic on Elk Grove Blvd., a collision took place just west of Wymark Drive involving three other vehicles.

After the collision, the driver of the white pickup truck exited the vehicle and fled on foot just as officers were arriving on scene. When the officers attempted to contact the driver, to determine if he had been injured in the collision, he took an aggressive posture as if he was preparing to engage the officers in a physical confrontation.

Believing that the driver was going to physically assault them, one of the officers deployed his Taser. The Taser deployment did not penetrate a jacket that the driver was wearing and the driver then began running westbound on Elk Grove Boulevard on the south side of the street in an attempt to escape.

As officers were pursuing the driver on foot, he stopped running, turned around and again took an aggressive stance. Based on the driver’s aggressive behavior and posture, the officer deployed his Taser for a second time which temporarily incapacitated the individual who was then taken to the ground.

When officers attempted to handcuff the driver, he physically resisted their efforts and a struggle and ensued. During the struggle, the officers were able to handcuff the driver.

While requesting additional resources, the officers recognized that the individual was no longer responding to instructions and was in distress. The officers immediately began life-saving efforts and requested medical assistance.

Medical personnel arrived and transported the driver to a local area hospital where he later died. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office has identified the suspect as 41-year old Daniel Landeros of Elk Grove.

The investigation into this in custody death will be conducted by the Elk Grove Police Department’s Investigation Bureau, which is standard practice for any officer-involved in custody death. In accordance with department policy, the officers involved will be placed on paid administrative leave. The officers who were involved in this incident were not injured during the struggle with the individual.