A 70-year-old man from El Cerrito died Saturday night after experiencing a medical emergency while in custody.
The incident started around 10:44 p.m. at the San Pablo Lytton Casino. San Pablo police officers were called to the scene because a guest who was previously banned from the casino refused to leave. Security guards told dispatchers that the man was fighting back as they tried to put him in handcuffs.
When police officers arrived, the casino security team had already handcuffed the man. The San Pablo Police Department reported that their officers did not use any force while taking the man into custody for trespassing. He was then driven to the Contra Costa County jail for booking.
While at the jail, and prior to being booked, the man suffered an unexplained medical emergency. Jail staff and firefighters from the Contra Costa Fire Protection District tried to save his life and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Despite these efforts, doctors later pronounced him dead.
Because the death happened following an arrest, the San Pablo Police Department and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the case together. This joint investigation is required by county rules. The police are not releasing the man’s name yet because they are still notifying his family.
The investigation is still going on to figure out exactly what happened. If you have any information about this case, the San Pablo Police Department asks that you call them at (510) 215-3150.
