Suspect Died In Phoenix Police Car After Struggle With Officers

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department is investigating after a suspect died in police custody Tuesday morning. The adult male died in the back of a police vehicle after officers struggled to subdue him during his arrest, police said.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Mercedes Fortune told Patch no other information is available about the suspect at this time.

The incident took place at 51st Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix just after 10 a.m. Police arrived in the area to perform a welfare check after a caller notified the department that someone was looking into vehicles in a shopping center parking lot and making "obscene gestures."

Police said officers observed the behavior and attempted to approach the suspect, who ran across traffic and into a nearby convenience store when he spotted police. When the officer went to enter the business, the suspect threw a drink in the officer's face and ran.

"While running after him, the suspect continued to throw liquid from his drink at the officer," Fortune said. "The officer was able to finally grab hold of the suspect, and they both went to the ground."

Two additional officers arrived to help subdue the suspect amid the struggle, and he was eventually handcuffed. Police said they used leg restraints on him due to his erratic behavior.

The suspect was then placed in the back of a police vehicle for evaluation by emergency medical technicians traveling to the scene. When officers went to speak with him, they found him unresponsive. Firefighters transported the suspect to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.