S.F. Officials Link Drugs to Suspect’s Death

A burglary suspect who witnesses said was beaten and kicked by police may have suffered a fatal, drug-related heart attack when he battled arresting officers, officials said Tuesday.

Mayor Frank Jordan, Police Chief Tony Ribera and Medical Examiner Boyd Stephens addressed a hastily called news conference in the death of Aaron Williams.

Relatives had told reporters that Williams was hit and kicked while handcuffed on the ground.

The news conference was needed to reassure the public that the matter would be fully investigated, said Jordan, a former police chief.

Stephens said Williams had suffered very few injuries, with no internal injuries or brain damage.

Williams was declared dead in the driveway of a police station about an hour after he was taken into custody Sunday.

His body had a temperature of 103 degrees up to an hour after death, which is consistent with drug use, Stephans said, adding that it could be up to eight weeks before the cause of death is determined.

Williams was arrested after undercover officers saw a man running into a Bush Street building. They called to Williams to come out and when he opened the door, three officers grabbed him. A contingent of 12 officers eventually responded, said Homicide Inspector Jim Bergstorm, who described William’s behavior as bizarre.

The first three officers tried to subdue Williams, 35, with pepper spray but that tactic had no effect, officials said.

Williams’ sister Kimberly said earlier that she witnessed several officers beating and kicking her brother as he yelled for help and asked them to stop.

No clubs were used, according to Bergstorm, who described the combat as one of “wrestling” rather than beatings.

He said one officer conceded he kicked Williams on the arm, but only when Williams reached for the pepper spray canister on his belt.