'Alert' suspect taken into custody by Elk Grove Police dies at area hospital

Mental Health Clinician was dispatched to the incident

An unidentified male who was taken into custody this afternoon by Elk Grove Police died at an area hospital

According to Elk Grove Police, officers were dispatched to the area near Laguna Park Drive and Seasons Drive in the Laguna neighborhood by medical emergency personnel for the Cosumnes Fire Department. Responding officers located fire department personnel standing near an adult male who was reportedly acting erratically and standing aside of a vehicle in the street. 

As part of the response team, the department's Mobile Crisis Support Team, which included a mental health clinician, was dispatched to the scene. 

As officers tried to detain the man, he physically resisted the officer’s efforts and a struggle ensued where he kicked the officers and continued on the ground. Officers gained control and handcuffed the man.

While he was seated, he reportedly hit his head on the concrete and while officers were speaking to him, he again resisted detainment and kicked an officer, who placed the male in a WRAP, safe restraint device. The officers who were involved in this incident were not injured.

After detaining the male, who was reportedly alert and speaking, he was taken to an area hospital for medical clearance prior to incarceration. While at the hospital, the male remained alert, conscious and speaking but at approximately 2:45 p.m., he suffered an unknown medical emergency. Despite efforts from medical staff, the male died. 

The name of the deceased has not been released and identification will be made by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.

An inquiry surrounding the death will be conducted by the department’s Investigation Bureau, which is standard practice for an in-custody death. In their press release, the department also noted "to maintain full transparency and in accordance with policy, there will also be two independent reviews into the incident, one by the Elk Grove Police Department’s Professional Standards Bureau as well as one by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office."

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