In-custody death of suicidal man under investigation

Exterior view of the Long Beach Police Department Headquarters. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

A man who repeatedly stabbed himself in an apparent suicide attempt and was Tasered by Long Beach police officers trying to prevent him from doing so died at a hospital after being disarmed and detained, police said Friday.

According to the Long Beach Police Department, officers responded around 1:50 p.m. Thursday to the unit block of West 53rd Street after receiving reports of an attempted suicide.

The woman who called police said she was a friend of the man and was concerned for his well-being, because he had threatened to kill himself and hurt others, according to the LBPD.

Officers went into the home and found the man suffering from multiple self-inflicted stab wounds to his upper body. He was still holding a knife and bleeding profusely, police said. Officers tried to negotiate with the man to get him to drop the knife, but the man continued stabbing himself, prompting them to deploy Tasers and handcuff him, police said.

The man was treated at the scene then taken to a hospital, where he later died.

His death is being investigated as an in-custody fatality due to the use of force and the fact the man was Tasered and handcuffed, police said. The District Attorney’s Office will also investigate the death, according to the LBPD.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Long Beach Homicide Detectives Sean Magee or Juan Carlos Reyes at 562-570-7244. Anonymous callers can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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