The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) Wednesday reported the death of a man who was being detained by another man after the former had allegedly attempted to steal a woman’s cell phone.
On Monday, May 14, at approximately 11:30pm, officers were dispatched to the area of Granada Avenue and Ocean Boulevard for a call regarding a person screaming. Upon arrival, officers observed a bystander detaining whom they believed was a possible suspect.
“An officer, with the help of marine-patrol special-services officers, proceeded to handcuff the suspect without any physical resistance, but they quickly realized he was in medical distress, and immediately removed the handcuffs,” the LBPD stated in a press release. “Officers subsequently started rendering life-saving measures.”
The LBPD responded and determined the subject deceased at the scene, police said. The preliminary investigation and witness statements indicates the suspect, a male adult, had approached the victim and taken her cell phone. The victim, a female adult, screamed for help when the suspect attempted to flee the scene. Bystanders came to her aid and made attempts to detain the suspect, which resulted in a physical altercation until officers arrived.
As with any in-custody death incidents, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office was notified and respond to the scene and will be conducting a separate death investigation, according to the LBPD.
The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Cause of death will be determined by the Los Angeles Corner’s Office.
Those with information regarding the incident are asked to contact homicide detectives Malcom Evans and Robert Gonzales at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to a smartphone or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.
Source: LBPD
