Man Who Died In Police Custody After Fight At Downtown Bar ID'd

SAN DIEGO, CA —Authorities Wednesday publicly identified a man who died of unknown causes in police custody last weekend after allegedly assaulting a bouncer at a downtown night spot near Balboa Theatre.

A San Diego Police Department officer responding to a report of a disturbance at the Star Bar in the 400 block of E Street about 8:15 p.m. Saturday found a security guard and another man restraining 40-year-old Gabriel Jesus Garza outside the establishment, according to the county Sheriff's Department, which investigates in-custody fatalities involving SDPD personnel.

"The officer was quickly able to handcuff (Garza)," sheriff's Lt. Michael Krugh said. "Despite being handcuffed, (he) continued to struggle with the officer."

While trying to subdue Garza, who allegedly had bitten the bouncer on the arm during the fracas, the patrolman called for backup officers and requested paramedics to evaluate Garza, the lieutenant said.

A short time later, as Officers Noah McLemore and Jacob Phipps were holding down Garza, he lost consciousness and became unresponsive, Krugh said. An ambulance crew took the San Diego resident to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A ruling on Garza's cause of death remains on hold pending completion of postmortem examinations.

McLemore and Phipps have each been with the SDPD for about 4 1/2 years. They are assigned to SDPD Central Division patrol.

— City News Service