Death After Airport Disturbance Probed
San Diego police are investigating the death of a 66-year-old Woodland Hills man who died in Clairemont Community Hosptial Thursday, where he was admitted Saturday after a disturbance in a Lindbergh Field bar.
Val King died about 2:30 a.m. Thursday, coroner’s deputies said. Police said they were awaiting complete autopsy results.
Although the circumstances of the death were under investigation, Lt. Paul Ybarrondo of the homicide detail said the death “doesn’t appear to be other than an accidental or natural.”
King was taken into custody in the airport’s East Terminal Harbor Bar about 10 a.m. Saturday after he became argumentative and disruptive, Harbor Police Capt. Don Hadley said.
The bartender had called for assistance when King argued over his bill and began behaving irrationally.
According to Harbor Police reports, King lost his balance, fell off his bar stool and his head hit the floor after he jerked his hands away from arresting officers.
King was given first aid in an office near the bar before officers took him to UC San Diego Medical Center for treatment of a cut above his eye.
Hadley said King was then taken to the County Mental Health complex. He was transferred to Clairemont Community Hospital about 4 p.m. Saturday.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
