Man Dies After Exhibiting Bizarre Behavior

Los Angeles: A 43-year-old man died while in police custody on June 1, 2006, after he displayed bizarre behavior in Van Nuys.

A bystander waved down a passing LAPD police car in the 6800 block of Sepulveda Boulevard just after 11 AM. The officers stopped to investigate a man, Frankie Diaz, who was acting bizarrely. As the two officers approached, Diaz knelt down on the road and held his hands behind his head.

The officers handcuffed the man until they could determine what the nature of the problem was. Once handcuffed, Diaz began to struggle against his restraints and tried to kick the officers.

The officers restrained the man’s legs with a hobble, made of nylon cord, to limit his ability to kick the officers. While trying to restrain Diaz, the officers noticed he stopped breathing. They removed the hobble restraint, administered CPR, and called for an ambulance.

A private ambulance service was passing by and stopped to help. The ambulance took Diaz to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will determine the cause of death.

Force Investigation Division will investigate the circumstances surrounding the officers’ contact with Diaz.

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