A video shows the final moments of an Arizona man when police officers restrained him for six minutes on hot asphalt.
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The man identified as 28-year-old Ramon Timothy Lopez died on August 4 after officers from the Phoenix Police Department confronted him outside of a store after receiving a call about his behavior. Reports state Lopez stole a drink from the store then threw it at the officers after they approached him and ran from the scene. One of the officers caught up to the young man and tackled him to the ground and as he laid on the ground, two more officers restrained his arms and legs, with one of them placing their knee on his back.
The recorded temperature on the day of Lopez’s death was 100 degrees Fahrenheit with a rising temperature of 59 degrees from the ground. After restraining Lopez, the officers placed him in a police vehicle and claimed he was on drugs due to his erratic behavior. While in police custody, officers found Lopez to be unresponsive and transported him to a local hospital where he later died.
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The Pheonix Police Department said in a statement that the public shouldn’t jump to conclusions until the investigation is complete due to the nature of Lopez’s death.
‘Conclusions about whether the actions of the officers are consistent with department policy and the law will not be made until all facts are known and the investigation is complete.’
Currently, two investigations are being conducted to look into the circumstances leading up to his death. Lopez’s cause of death is currently unknown.
SOURCE: Metro UK