Man Dies After He Is Arrested
A 39-year-old Palmdale man died shortly after being arrested on suspicion of firing a handgun at his girlfriend, authorities said.
Ronnie Renee Duncan complained of shortness of breath after being arrested Saturday in a parking lot at 10th Street and Palmdale Boulevard in Palmdale, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Sam Conrad said.
Deputies summoned an ambulance, but Duncan was pronounced dead at Palmdale General Hospital at 3:25 p.m., half an hour after he was arrested.
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
Conrad said deputies did not use excessive force to subdue Duncan.
Deputies had to “use their body weight” during the arrest to restrain Duncan, who was more than six feet tall, weighed more than 300 pounds and was “very agitated,” Conrad said.
Duncan’s girlfriend, Demetria Butler, 22, told officers that he was under the influence of cocaine and had fired several shots at her with a handgun, Conrad said. A small amount of cocaine was found in the man’s possession, he said.
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