Mo. Man Jumps from Back of Ambulance, Dies After Struggle with Police
June 22--O'FALLON, Mo. -- O'FALLON, Mo. -- Police are investigating the death of a 38-year-old man who fled from the back of an ambulance and died shortly after police tried to get him into custody late Sunday.
The man, who police have not identified, apparently was standing in the middle of Westbrook Drive about 11:20 p.m., yelling for someone to call the police.
When police arrived, they met with the man's mother, who said her son was acting paranoid, and she was concerned for his safety and her own. Officers met with the man, and he was having hallucinations, exhibiting signs of manic behavior and at times speaking incoherently, police said.
The man agreed to go to the hospital for an evaluation. Medics came to transport him, and he voluntarily got into the ambulance.
But while the ambulance was traveling down Westbrook Drive, he jumped out, police said.
Officers found the man in a back yard, and police said he acted as though he was going to assault the officers. He was ordered to the ground, and he complied.
But while officers were attempting to handcuff the man, he began to thrash around violently kicking at them.
As the officers attempted to calm the man down, he lost consciousness, and his heart stopped beating, police said.
Officers started CPR, and medics returned. The man was transported to a hospital and was later was pronounced dead.
The St Louis County Medical Examiner's Office is performing an autopsy.
Susan Weich -- 636-493-9674
@susan_weich on Twitter
sweich@post-dispatch.com
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