The Sacramento Police Department is conducting an investigation in the death of an assault suspect that died in police custody.

On May 24, 2013, at 5:46 p.m., a male, white subject in his early 40's entered a store in the 8300 block of Folsom Blvd and began making unintelligible statements to the female store employee.  The employee feared for her safety and called 911.  The subject exited the store just as officers arrived.  Upon seeing the arriving officers, the subject reentered the store and attempted to barricade himself and the female employee inside of the store by trying to secure the front door.

The officers were able to physically force the door open and attempted to contact the male subject however he immediately became combative.  The officers made repeated demands to the subject to cease resisting and attempted to place him into custody but he refused and began to physically overpower one of the police officers. The struggle became so violent that it moved from inside of the store and out onto the sidewalk and parking lot in front of the store. In an attempt to free the officer that was being assaulted by the suspect, the second officer used multiple baton strikes and pepper spray neither of which had any effect on the suspect. 

Before additional officers arrived at least two citizens saw the struggle and tried to assist the officers by kicking and striking the subject.  Additionally, a security guard responded and struck the subject with his baton in an attempt to force the subject to release his grip on the officer.  Back up officers as well as a nearby off duty Sacramento County District Attorney Investigator arrived a short time later to assist at which time the subject was finally taken into custody.

Shortly after the officers placed the subject into custody they noticed that he was unresponsive.  The Sacramento Fire Department responded and transported the subject to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased.  At this time it is unknown what caused the subject's death.  One police officer and the off duty District Attorney Investigator were also taken to an area hospital for medical treatment. 

The Sacramento Police Department's Homicide, Internal Affairs and Crime Scene Investigations Units are working this investigation in conjunction with the City's Office of Public Safety Accountability and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office.