LOS ANGELES, CA, Nov. 16 – A man died in police custody Friday evening after crashing his vehicle into the backyard of a residence in Long Beach, officials said.
The incident occurred just before 6 p.m. in the 5300 block of Cerritos Avenue, where officers from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) responded to reports of a single-vehicle collision involving a car that had driven through a fence and into a backyard.
Upon arrival, officers found the driver, an adult male, inside the vehicle. “Officers contacted the driver, ordered him to exit the vehicle, and placed him in handcuffs as part of the investigation,” the LBPD stated.
Paramedics from the Long Beach Fire Department were called to the scene and began administering medical aid. The man was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His identity has not been released pending notification of his next of kin.
The incident is being investigated as an in-custody death due to the fact that the man was handcuffed at the time. Police emphasized that no force was used by officers during the encounter.
In accordance with protocol, LBPD homicide detectives have launched an investigation. The Los Angeles County Department of the Medical Examiner-Coroner will conduct an independent inquiry into the cause of death, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has also been notified.
Officials are urging anyone with information about the crash or the events leading up to it to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Michael Hubbard or Jesus Espinoza at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be submitted through L.A. Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-8477 or visiting their website.
As the investigation evolves, further details are expected to emerge about the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
