A man died at a hospital after a physical confrontation with Santa Ana police and his arrest at a hotel on Friday night, Santa Ana Police Department officials said in a news release Saturday, April 2.
Officers went to the La Quinta Inn, near Dyer Road and the 55 Freeway, on reports of a man breaking windows and assaulting hotel security personnel just before midnight, the news release said. The man was a guest at the hotel and was believed to be alone, said Sgt. Maria Lopez, a spokesperson for the Santa Ana Police Department.
It is not clear what caused the man to break the windows or assault the guards, but after an initial investigation, investigators believe the man was under the influence of a controlled substance, Lopez said.
The man’s name was not immediately released, pending next of kin notification by the OC Coroner’s Office.
While attempting to place the man in custody, the man entered into a “physical confrontation” with officers, Lopez said. While responding to the call, officers were told the man might be possibly armed with a knife, but it is unclear if officers located a knife at the scene.
During their efforts to restrain the man, “officers used force to place him into custody,” the release said. Information on what force was used was not immediately disclosed and is under investigation.
One officer had minor injuries as a result of the confrontation. The man in custody was treated by paramedics at the scene for his injuries and transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead by medical staff Saturday morning.
Per protocol, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Santa Ana Police Department are conducting concurrent, independent investigations. The Santa Ana City Attorney’s Office is also reviewing the in custody death.
Source: Orange County Register
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