OC Investigators Launch Probe Into In-Custody Death

ORANGE COUNTY, CA -- Santa Ana police and the Orange County District Attorney's Office said Thursday that they're investigating how a suspect became unresponsive while in the back of a squad car and lapsed into a coma and became brain-dead.

At about 9:40 a.m. Sunday, Santa Ana police were helping Anaheim police arrest a robbery suspect, Bertagna said. Anaheim investigators told Santa Ana police the suspect was possibly around 1500 N. Harbor Blvd., where officers found his car parked at Pueblo Motel, Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

Santa Ana police maintained surveillance on the suspect's car while waiting for Anaheim police to respond, but before Anaheim officers arrived the suspect exited the motel, so Santa Ana officers arrested him, Bertagna said.

While in the back seat of the police car, the suspect became unresponsive, so officers attempted to revive him before paramedics arrived, Bertagna said. The suspect was rushed to an area hospital, where he was revived, but lapsed into a coma and was placed on life-support machines,
Bertagna said.

At about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, doctors declared he was brain-dead, but left him on life support so his organs could be harvested, Bertagna said. The suspect's name and age have yet to be released.

City News Service contributed to this report.