El Cajon in-custody death case opened after 52-year-old detained during early-morning traffic incident

Incident began with reports of a man running in traffic and shouting for help

A 52-year-old man died after being taken into custody by El Cajon police during an early-morning incident in which he was seen running in traffic and yelling for help, authorities said. The case has been classified as an in-custody death investigation because officers used force while detaining him.

Police were dispatched at about 6 a.m. on January 4 to the area of Magnolia Avenue and West Chase Avenue following reports of a man in the roadway. Officers located the man and issued commands, police said, but he did not comply and would not lie face down on the street.

Police say restraints were used while paramedics were requested

Authorities said officers handcuffed the man and applied soft restraints to his ankles. Police requested paramedics to evaluate him. Before medical personnel arrived, the man became unresponsive, police said.

Officers administered naloxone and began CPR until paramedics arrived and transported him to a hospital. The man later died at the hospital on Saturday, nearly two weeks after the January 4 detention, police said. His name had not been released publicly as of the latest official update.

Multiple reviews are expected in force-related deaths during custody

In-custody deaths involving the use of force typically trigger parallel review processes that examine both medical and enforcement factors. In this case, investigators are expected to assess the circumstances of the detention, the type and degree of force used, and the timeline of medical response from the moment officers arrived through the man’s transport to the hospital.

Authorities indicated that the determination of whether force played any role in the man’s death will depend on findings from investigators and the Medical Examiner’s office. A separate legal review is expected to evaluate whether the officers’ actions carry any criminal liability under applicable standards for law enforcement use of force.

Key unresolved questions in the investigation

• The man’s medical cause of death and whether underlying health conditions or substances were factors.
• Whether the restraint methods used were appropriate under department policy and training.
• The sequence of events between the man being restrained and becoming unresponsive.
• The timing of calls for medical aid and the continuity of care provided before paramedics arrived.

The case remains under investigation as an in-custody death.

Authorities have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact San Diego Police Department homicide investigators or submit tips through Crime Stoppers.