By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–A man died in police custody Saturday night following an altercation with security personnel at a bar in downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, authorities reported.
San Diego Police Department officers from the Central Division responded to a call at 8:15 p.m. regarding a “violent” individual outside the Star Bar. According to reports, the man had been removed by security due to a disturbance inside the establishment and allegedly bit a security guard on the arm during the confrontation.
When an officer arrived at the scene the security guard and another individual were restraining the man on the ground as he continued to struggle. The officer handcuffed the man, but he reportedly remained combative. Concerned for the man’s condition, the officer requested assistance from the San Diego Fire Department for a medical evaluation while awaiting backup.
A second officer arrived shortly after to help secure the man’s legs. Paramedics arrived at 8:26 p.m. and found the man unresponsive and without a pulse. They initiated life-saving measures before transporting him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The officers involved in the incident have each served with SDPD for over four and a half years and are part of the Central Division’s patrol team. No officers sustained injuries during the encounter.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit has taken the lead in the investigation, per the Countywide Memorandum of Understanding regarding in-custody deaths. Detectives are gathering evidence, conducting witness interviews, and analyzing the sequence of events that led to the man’s death.
The investigation process aims to ensure transparency and accountability. Once the Homicide Unit concludes its review, the findings will be forwarded to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to assess any potential criminal liability for the officers involved. Simultaneously, the SDPD will conduct an administrative review to evaluate whether proper protocols were followed.
The case remains under investigation.
