On November 2, 2012, Pima County deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call from a residence in the Tucson from a roommate of a man was cutting himself.
Upon arrival, deputies were met by the reportee and learned that the 37-year-old roommate was armed with edged weapons, had made suicidal threats earlier and was under the influence of methamphetamine. Deputies observed the 37-year-old male acting erratic and highly agitated.
When they followed him inside the residence, he ran into the bathroom and barricaded himself inside. It was apparent to deputies on scene that the barricaded male continued his self destructive behavior as they could hear him scream inside the bathroom. Another deputy was able to establish visual contact through a small bathroom window and advised that the male inside was self mutilating with an edged weapon.
The bathroom door was broken down and deputies attempted to restrain the subject in order to stop him from harming himself. The male continued to fight with deputies before they were ultimately successful in handcuffing him for his own protection. Once restrained the male fell unconscious and medical personnel who had arrived on scene earlier, were able to immediately begin their life saving efforts.
The male was transported to University of Arizona Medical Center, in Tucson, where he was later pronounced dead. Deputies involved in direct contact with the subject were exposed to bio-hazardous conditions during their restraining attempts and were evaluated for their safety. Investigators with the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit responded to the scene in order to conduct an investigation of the incident.