LONG BEACH : Autopsy Fails to Reveal Cause of Suspect’s Death
An autopsy failed to determine the cause of death of a Long Beach man who was doused with pepper spray by police before they placed him in a patrol car, a coroner’s spokesman said Friday.
“We will have to await the results of toxicology tests” on the body of Leo Dawson, 27, said coroner’s spokesman Scott Carrier. “There was no evidence of injuries. The autopsy was inconclusive.”
Dawson died about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, an hour after officers arrested him while investigating a burglary at a closed restaurant at 52nd Street and Orange Avenue, said police spokesman Josef Levy.
Dawson allegedly began swinging a fire extinguisher at the officers and ran to an alley, where he was hit with pepper spray and tackled. He was handcuffed and his ankles were tied together before he was put in the squad car, Levy said.
A few minutes later, the officers noticed he was having trouble breathing, Levy said. Paramedics took him to the hospital, where he died.
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