Man Dies in Scuffle With Police

A 30-year-old man died Friday night in police custody after two officers tackled him after a footrace through downtown, police said.

Lt. Connie Van Putten said the unidentified man died at about 6:15 p.m. after the chase by police. She said the incident was under investigation by the Police Department’s homicide detail.

The man was first picked up by police after Officers Perry L. Hooper and Donald J. Dolezal answered a call for help at 7th Avenue and L Street. The officers went to investigate a reported accident, but were told by paramedics on the scene that the man lying in the street was allegedly drunk, Van Putten said.

Hooper and Dolezal brought the man to the alcohol detoxification center, located at 1100 Island St., but he became “combative” with staff members and the center refused to accept him. When the two officers tried to handcuff the man, he broke from their custody and ran, Van Putten said.

The man ran southbound on 12th Avenue, west on Market Street and north on 12th Avenue before the officers caught up with him in the 500 block, where they tackled and finally handcuffed him, Van Putten said.

Shortly afterward, the man stopped breathing. The officers administered CPR, but the man was pronounced dead at San Diego Physicians & Surgeons Hospital, Van Putten said.

A spokesman for the San Diego County Coroner’s office said late Friday identity of the man would be released pending notification of his family. The cause of death will be determined after an autopsy.