Man Who Died Shortly After Being Restrained By Police Identified

PHOENIX, AZ — The man who died shortly after he was detained and restrained by Phoenix police last week was identified as Jessee Rickman, 28.

Rickman was in handcuffs, a leg restraint and a spit mask when he became unresponsive while paramedics were tending to him, police said. The restraints were then removed, and he was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

The cause of death has not been determined, and an investigation is ongoing, police said.

Rickman 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 tried to detain Rickman. Police alleged that Rickman resisted, and they put him on the ground, handcuffed him and placed him in a leg restraint and a spit mask, police said.

Police placed Rickman on his back, on his side and in a seated position before he became unresponsive, police said.