Man Dies Shortly After Phoenix Police Detain And Restrain Him

PHOENIX, AZ — A man died Friday after he was detained and restrained by Phoenix police, the department said in a news release.

Police said the man, who was in handcuffs, a leg restraint and a spit mask, became unresponsive while paramedics were tending to him. Police say the restraints were then removed and the man was taken to a hospital were he was later pronounced dead.

Police did not release the man's name.

The man was unclothed and acting erratically around 12:45 a.m. Friday near the intersection of North 7th Avenue and West Palm Lane, police said.

Police said that he resisted their attempts to detain him and they brought him to the ground. He was then handcuffed and placed in the leg restraint and spit mask, police said.

Police said he was handcuffed on his back, placed on his side and then put in a seated position prior to becoming unresponsive.

The man's cause of death had not been determined and an investigation was ongoing as of Friday afternoon.