Police in San Jose reported that a man in police custody died during an incident at a hospital while under police supervision.
On Thursday, May 25, the detainee reportedly assaulted an officer, used an oxygen tank to break a window, and then jumped onto a ledge, leading to a 20-foot fall that resulted in his death.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and the San Jose Police Department are investigating the incident.
According to the police, the suspect was in the hospital due to a pre-existing medical condition and was also in custody for violating a court order. On Friday, the police issued a statement indicating that the suspect had allegedly assaulted the officer and threatened both the officer and a nurse with an oxygen tank.
In response, the officer and hospital staff immediately left the room and called for additional assistance. While they were away, the suspect broke a window in his room with the oxygen tank and jumped onto the ledge outside.
The statement also disclosed that two hospital security guards and the police officer re-entered the room in an attempt to stop the suspect’s attempted escape. Unfortunately, the suspect fell approximately 20 feet from the ledge, sustaining critical injuries.
Despite immediate medical attention from officers and hospital staff, and subsequent transfer to a different hospital, the suspect later succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead.
The police department noted that the county coroner’s office will publicly identify the deceased suspect once his family has been notified.
