Stamford man dies after being taken into police custody

Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Stamford man dies after being taken into police custody 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

STAMFORD — City police say a suspect taken into custody following a domestic incident between a mother and son late Tuesday night died after experiencing unexplained medical distress. The man’s name was withheld by police until his next of kin could be notified of his death.

Acting police Chief Thomas Wuennemann said the man appears to have died because of a medical condition, which was still unknown Wednesday. The man was not assaulted or tasered by police and police conduct is not being looked at as a cause of his death, the chief said.

“There is no indication that police use of force had anything to do with his death,” Wuennemann said.

Police officers were called to a private residence on West Avenue at 11:40 p.m. Tuesday on the report of a domestic dispute between a mother and her 23-year-old son. But before officers got to the home to interview the mother, the son fled the residence, according to a statement from Wuennemann’s office.

Based upon information gathered at the scene, the son merited arrest on domestic violence charges, the statement said.

At 1:24 a.m. the son returned home and his mother called 911 to report his arrival. Officers responded and saw the young man run away. They searched the area and located the son hiding in a nearby wooded area, according to police.

Officers arrested the suspect and brought him to the police department for booking. But once at headquarters the young man experienced some “distress” and officers called in medical assistance from the fire department and emergency medical services, the statement said.

Medical responders administered aid to the suspect at the police department and transported him to Stamford Hospital, where he died, according to police.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determined the cause of death.

Wuennemann said that the man’s name will probably be released on Thursday to give the family time to tell distant relatives of the death.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com