Oakland arrest probed — suspect may have ingested drugs, kept gun

A drug suspect apparently ingested narcotics before he was pulled over by Oakland police, and was in critical condition at a hospital after he fell ill after being taken to jail, authorities said Monday.

Oakland police are investigating all aspects of the Friday morning encounter — including why a gun wasn’t found in the man’s pants until he was taken to the hospital, department officials said.

The suspect, whose name wasn’t released, was stopped for a traffic violation on the 600 block of 42nd Street, not far from the MacArthur BART Station, about 9:50 a.m., police said.

Officers determined the driver had numerous arrest warrants related to stolen property and narcotics and arrested him without incident and without using any force, police said.

Officers took him to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, where he “suffered a medical emergency and was transported to a local hospital,” officials said.

Medical personnel removed an unspecified object from his throat, and a loaded gun was found in his pants, authorities said.

Suspects are usually carefully searched for contraband — including drugs and weapons — before they are taken to jail.

The names of the officers involved in the incident weren’t released.

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @henryklee