San Diego

Trespasser Punched, Kicked by Homeowner Dies in SDPD Custody

The man had broken a fence and had entered the home through a back door, witnesses told police.

Investigators are working to determine what led to the death of a man who died Tuesday while in the custody of the San Diego Police Department.

Officers were called to a home on Hornet Way in the Midway District at around 3:30 p.m.

At the time of the call, a homeowner reported a man was acting strangely in front of the home, police said.

The man had broken a fence and had entered the home through a back door, witnesses told police.

A male resident came downstairs, where his 9-year-old daughter was sleeping, and confronted the man, SDPD said.

A fight ensued and the resident punched the suspect twice, causing him to lose consciousness. The resident then kicked the suspect.

The man eventually woke up and ran out of the house. At that time, he began displaying "bizarre" behavior, police said.

When officers tried to take the man into custody, they say he resisted. At least three officers were needed to put the man in handcuffs, according to police.

SDPD said officers used a combination of physical force and strikes to the man's arms so that they could get him handcuffed. They believed the suspect was demonstrating symptoms of excited delirium and requested assistance from paramedics.

As he was being assessed by medics the man became unresponsive, SDPD said. Life-saving measures were taken but the suspect died about an hour later at the hospital.

SDPD said the suspect was in his 40s, but did not offer further identification.

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