The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) has identified the man who died following the deployment of two deputies' Tasers Saturday.
Mark Roshawn Adkins, 54, of Lemon Grove died hours after the confrontation with deputies in a condo complex on Lemon Grove Way. The neighborhood is south of State Route 94 and west of State Route 125 about 10 miles east of downtown San Diego.
Deputies were called after several people reported seeing a man jumping fences into the backyards and attempting to gain entry into the townhomes.
When deputies found Adkins in a common patio area of the complex, they ordered him to get down on the ground.
Deputies say Adkins refused to comply.
The department issued this statement regarding what happened next:
"Both deputies deployed their Department issued Tasers, striking the suspect. The suspect went to the ground but continued to ignore commands to comply and attempted to stand again. A second round of Taser was deployed with the same minimal effect."
Local
Paul Brown, a resident who recorded the incident on his cell phone, told NBC 7 Monday that he and his wife heard the commotion and he came outside to see what was going on.
"We were in the bedroom and at first I thought it was the TV and she said 'No, that's not the TV.' So I looked out the window and I saw the sheriff's and so I said 'Let me get my phone and go and see what's going on.'" Brown said.
Brown said he heard the man being tased at least three times.
Once deputies were able to handcuff Adkins, they called for medical personnel to evaluate him. The department said this is routine protocol when Tasers are deployed.
"He seemed like he was okay," Brown added. "He was still moving."
Adkins became unresponsive while being treated by paramedics. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly before noon Saturday.
The death is now a use of force investigation. The cause of death has not been released.
"The results of the autopsy have not been completed and are pending toxicology results," Lt. Kenneth Nelson said in a written news release.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321/after hours at (858) 565-5200. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
