Posted by
Playful Walrus on Monday, July 14, 2008 4:16:45 PM
An 18-year-old male, suspected of trying to break into someone else’s place, died in the custody of the Long Beach Police Department. His family was all over the television news, apparently completely unashamed that they’d raised a criminal. No, they were out making a scene, no doubt hoping to attract a lawyer who will reach deep into the pockets of Long Beach (big city adjacent to the City of LA) taxpayers.
Los Angeles Times staff writer Victoria Kim reports.
A man described as a suspected burglar who reportedly screamed for help as he was being detained by neighbors died in police custody, Long Beach officials said Sunday.
Officers arrived at the 600 block of Elm Avenue after receiving a report of a burglary at 9:15 p.m. Saturday. They found the suspect, identified by a Los Angeles County coroner's official as Deshoun Kenyon Torrence, 18, injured from his struggle with the neighbors, said Jackie Bezart, public information officer for the Long Beach Police Department.
So according to the police, Deshoun Kenyon Torrence, suspected burglar, was injured in a struggle with his intended victims. Chances are, though, his family won’t sue them.
The suspect had sustained lacerations to his hands during the scuffle, said Mike Duree, a spokesman for the Long Beach Fire Department, which sent paramedics after receiving a call from the officers at the scene. The man was treated for those injuries and declined to be taken to a hospital, Duree said.
Shortly after paramedics left, the suspect stopped breathing in the back seat of the squad car, Bezart said. Officers performed CPR, but the man was pronounced dead by paramedics who returned at 10:10 p.m.
Before he was placed in the vehicle, the suspect was "alert, oriented and coherent and answered questions appropriately," officials said.
The autopsy could show that he had some innate health problem that was aggravated by illegal drug use, and the police will still get blamed. Yes, police have a responsibility to those they take into custody, but it looks like this guy's death is beyond the control of the police. We'll see.