Nov 8, 2007 7:13 pm US/Eastern
Witnesses: MDPD Beat Subdued Man Before His Death
New Witnesses Have Come Forward
They Also Claim Police Beat The Man After He Was Subdued
NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) ―
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Investigation Of Suspect Who Died While Subdued By Police
CBS
Miami-Dade police are in the midst of an investigation after a man died while in police custody, a man described as "despondent" and who ended up dead after an altercation with officers.
According to police, several people called 911 Wednesday night to report a man driving erratically in a black pick up truck in the area of Northwest 95th Street and 17th Avenue in Northwest Miami-Dade.
Police with Miami-Dade County schools were the first to arrive on the scene. They called for backup to help with the man described as "despondent" and "unresponsive" to officers' commands.
Witnesses say soon after police arrived, there was a long and violent struggle.
One witness, who didn't want to be identified, gave CBS4 News the following account of what happened: "When the police came up on him, he grabbed the police's thigh and they just started tussling, and another officer came, and I guess he kicked them in the face. They took out a Taser--they were Tasering him. They hit him in the head a couple of times with a light stick. They hog tied him, and when they were walking him to the car they dropped him and beat him again."
Police are not confirming these details, and have not confirmed the use of a Taser but they did say they are still investigating the incident.
However, they did admit to using force to subdue him after he resisted them. Another anonymous witness told CBS4's Gary Nelson that he was shocked with a Taser and beat even after being handcuffed. "They threw him back down on the ground, and started beating him, stomping on his head, hitting him with the billy club," said a local business owner.
The name of the man who died has not been released because family members have not been notified of his death.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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