Jul 13, 2008 9:38 am US/Pacific
Apprehended Burglary Suspect Dies In Cop Car
LONG BEACH
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A burglary suspect died after being captured and injured by civilians. The suspect started fighting with Long Beach police before being placed in a squad car, where he later died, a police spokesperson said. (File)
CBS
A burglary suspect who was caught by residents inside a Long Beach apartment building -- and who apparently was screaming for help before police arrived -- died in the back seat of a Long Beach squad car, a police department spokesperson said Sunday.
The man had been injured by civilians who had held him until police arrived, and also scuffled with the arriving officers, said Long Beach police spokesperson Jackie Bezart.
An autopsy will be necessary to determine why the man died.
Bezart said the man, identified early evening Sunday as Deshoun Keyon Torrence, 18, of Victorville, was checked by paramedics before officers placed him in the car.
Bezart said Torrence was "alert, oriented and coherent, and answered questions appropriately."
The incident began with a call of a burglary in progress in the 600 block of Elm Avenue at 10:15 p.m. Saturday. While en route, officers were told via police radio that screams of help were being heard from the apartment by witnesses.
Bezart said officers rushed into the apartment, and found that the suspect was possibly being detained, and said the man was hurt and not responsive to their questions, Bezart said.
Paramedics were called, and at some point the suspect starting fighting with police. Officers used necessary force, she said, to subdue Torrence and place him in the cruiser.
Once they discovered he had stopped breathing, officers performed CPR on the suspect.
Paramedics returned to the scene and eventually pronounced the suspect dead the scene. An autopsy report is expected in about a week, according to officials.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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