Man in distress loses consciousness, dies while restrained by Caldwell police
A distressed man died while being restrained by Caldwell police and fire personnel Saturday night.
The Caldwell Police Department, Caldwell Fire Department and Canyon County Paramedics responded to a call at 11 p.m. about a medical emergency involving a 68-year-old man, the police department said in a Sunday news release.
“The reporting party indicated that the man was suffering from an unknown medical condition, acting violently, and was threatening to jump off a third-floor balcony,” police said.
Police said officers and fire personnel restrained him using “minor physical force and body weight,” and placed handcuffs on him, “in an attempt to save the man from harming himself or others.”
“Shortly after handcuffs were applied, the man lost consciousness,” police said. “Officers and fire personnel removed the handcuffs and immediately began life-saving measures, but despite their efforts, the man tragically passed away.”
Police said the cause of his death is not yet known. The Canyon County Coroner’s Office will conduct an autopsy.
“The tragic loss of life in our custody weighs heavily on my heart, and my deepest sympathy goes out to the family and loved ones affected,” Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram said in a statement. “The department is committed to transparency and accountability as we navigate this painful process. Every loss is a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and serve with compassion.”
The Critical Incident Task Force, led by the Nampa Police Department, will investigate the incident.
The Caldwell and Nampa police departments did not immediately respond to the Idaho Statesman’s questions.
