Man Acting `Strange' Dies After Struggle with San Leandro Police

A man died Sunday night after a struggle with San Leandro police, who said it took four officers to subdue him after a Taser had no effect.

Officers responded to a report of a "strange" man at at about 11:30 p.m. Employees had reported that a man in his early 30s was scaring customers by "acting strange" and "paranoid." He was asked to leave several times but had refused.

Police arrived and found the man outside the restaurant. Officers said he refused to cooperate. One of the officers used a Taser but it had minimal to no effect, police said. The struggle continued and at one point the two officers and the suspect fell to the ground.

Police said the suspect continued to resist arrest, and it took an additional two officers to control and handcuff the man.

Immediately after the man was handcuffed, he fell ill and the officers requested medical assistance, police said. Emergency medical personnel responded and took the man to a hospital, where he died.

The cause of his death has not been determined, and the man's name has not been released because his family has not yet been notified. 

Police said all four officers involved are on paid administrative leave while their actions are investigated. Sgt. Doug Calcagno said this is a standard procedure.

In 2005, a Dublin man died after being tased during an arrest by San Leandro police.

A San Francisco Chronicle report said 33-year-old Jose Maravilla Perez died after being tased during an arrest for allegedly violating a temporary restraining order. But the family said the use of excessive force resulted in the death of the father of two.

Calcagno said Monday the city reached a settlement with surviving family members in that case, but he did not have details on the amount or terms.