Man dies after confrontation with Montebello police

MONTEBELLO — A man died early Friday following a struggle with Montebello police officers in which in officer suffered a broken arm, officials said.
The name of the man was not released pending confirmation that his family had been notified, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said. He was initially described as a Montebello man in his 40s, though it was unclear if he lived at the home where the incident unfolded.
He died at a hospital just under an hour after the incident, which took place about 12:15 a.m. in the 1000 block of Carob Way, just south of Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
The officers went to the home after the man called to request medical help, Deputy Aura Sierra of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Headquarters Burea said. It was unclear what type of medical problem the man was experiencing.
“Upon arrival, the suspect exited the house and began to fight with the officers,” Sierra said. “The officers used physical force and a Taser to subdue the suspect.”
The man showed signs of a medical issue and was taken to Beverly Hospital, where he died at 1:12 a.m., Winter said.
According to coroner’s documents, Winter said, “He was hostile. They restrained him. While restrained, he became unconscious.”
An officer suffered a broken arm in the scuffle, Sierra said. He was treated and released at a local hospital.
Montebello police deferred all comments to the sheriff’s department.
By late Friday morning, a few pieces of medical supplies such as alcohol swabs discarded on a front lawn were the only signs of the incident.
No one answered the doors at a duplex that sits behind the yard.
Neighbor Jose Jimenez, 48, who is blind, said he heard what sounded like five male voices yelling before police arrived.
Another neighbor, Rosario Silva, 60, said from her apartment, she heard police yelling repeatedly for someone to show them his hands.
“They repeated it many times,” she said, adding that she estimated the officers repeated the command about 10 times.
Silva said she did not see what occurred between the man and police officers.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau are spearheading the investigation, and anyone with information was encouraged to contact the bureau at 323-890-5500.

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