Man Died Of Apparent Overdose In Tucson Police Custody

TUCSON, AZ — A man died of an apparent drug overdose while in Tucson Police Department custody, the department said Tuesday. An autopsy and toxicology reports will further determine cause of death.

In a news conference, Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said the man had trespassed on another individual’s property around 2:30 a.m. and "was moving furniture around, talking to himself and very possibly under the influence."

The man, 29-year-old Jesus Gilberto Gutierrez, was handcuffed after officers arrived on the scene and found him unresponsive in the back yard. After spotting drug paraphernalia, emergency personnel administered Narcan — medication used to stop an overdose — and handcuffed him. Magnus said it is standard practice because many suspects can become combative as they wake up, according to local news outlet KVOA.

Gutierrez was moved to the front yard once paramedics arrived to administer medical care. There, it was found that the suspect had no pulse. Paramedics performed CPR before he was pronounced dead.

Magnus said he has reviewed body camera footage and does not believe officers violated any protocols.

The news conference, the chief said, was held in an effort to be more transparent about in-custody incidents as the country continues to grapple with the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

An investigation into Gutierrez's death is underway.