Coroner releases name of Idaho man in distress who died in police custody
Officials have released the name of the man who died in police custody over the weekend, but his cause of death remains unknown.
The Caldwell Police Department previously said a man in distress died while being restrained by police and fire personnel who were responding to a call about a medical emergency at an apartment building near downtown Caldwell.
The Canyon County Coroner’s Office identified the man on Wednesday as 68-year-old Donald Teeter Jr., of Caldwell. The coroner did not release information about what led to his death.
“Both the cause and manner of death are pending as the investigation continues,” Aaron Williams II, director of Canyon County Constituent Services Department, said in a news release.
The police Caldwell Fire Department and Canyon County Paramedics responded to a 911 call at 11 p.m. Saturday about a medical emergency involving Teeter, the police department said in a Sunday news release.
The reporting party indicated Teeter 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.”
Teeter then lost consciousness shortly after being put in handcuffs, according to police.
“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 Critical Incident Task Force, led by the Nampa Police Department, is investigating the incident.
The Caldwell and Nampa police departments have declined to answer further questions from the Idaho Statesman about law enforcement’s use of force or Teeter’s behavior, citing the ongoing investigation. The coroner’s office also said it would not release further information at this time.
