East Bakersfield--A man died in the custody of Sheriff's deputies early Wednesday after grappling with law enforcement officers for eight minutes across from Kern Medical Center.
Deputies say they used batons and a canine to subdue the man. He died at Kern Medical Center shortly after he stopped breathing in custody.
A security guard on the medical center's campus initially called for help around 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, saying the man was intoxicated and lying in the grass near Flower Street and Palm Drive.
The intersection remained closed Wednesday morning as detectives investigated.
A Sheriff's canine unit responded and the deputy said the man immediately became combative. The deputy released his canine partner but said the man continued to struggle.
Four additional deputies and two CHP officers arrived, grappling with the man for approximately eight minutes. Deputies used their batons, but no shots were fired, Sheriff's spokesman Ray Pruitt said. And no pepper spray was used, he said.
Several minutes after being subdued and taken into custody, the man stopped breathing, Pruitt said. He was taken to Kern Medical Center for treatment but died.
The man, in his 30s, was not immediately identified as the coroner's office attempted to contact next of kin.
Deputies say they used batons and a canine to subdue the man. He died at Kern Medical Center shortly after he stopped breathing in custody.
A security guard on the medical center's campus initially called for help around 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, saying the man was intoxicated and lying in the grass near Flower Street and Palm Drive.
The intersection remained closed Wednesday morning as detectives investigated.
A Sheriff's canine unit responded and the deputy said the man immediately became combative. The deputy released his canine partner but said the man continued to struggle.
Four additional deputies and two CHP officers arrived, grappling with the man for approximately eight minutes. Deputies used their batons, but no shots were fired, Sheriff's spokesman Ray Pruitt said. And no pepper spray was used, he said.
Several minutes after being subdued and taken into custody, the man stopped breathing, Pruitt said. He was taken to Kern Medical Center for treatment but died.
The man, in his 30s, was not immediately identified as the coroner's office attempted to contact next of kin.