Gilroy Man Dies After Police Chase, Struggle

GILROY, CA — An investigation was underway into the death of a Gilroy man Sunday who allegedly ran from police and became involved in a violent struggle with officers as they were trying to arrest him. Officers first came into contact with the man, described in a Gilroy Police Department news release only as 42-year-old resident of the city, when officers responded to a 9:56 p.m. call about a suspicious person in the backyard of a home in the 7400 block of Chestnut Street, police said. The caller told police they did not know the person.

As officers arrived at the scene the man immediately ran off, refusing officers' orders to surrender — instead making his way onto the roofs of at least two nearby homes, according to police.

"Prior to making any physical contact with police, officers noted the suspect appeared to have been bleeding from his face and a witness reported hearing a noise consistent with a fall before officers contacted him," police said in the news release.

Officers soon located the man on the ground and began to try and place him under arrest, police said.

However, the man "acted violently and resisted their efforts and made threatening statements," police said.

Gilroy police say officers used less-than-lethal options including a Taser, physical force and a carotid restraint in their efforts to take the man into custody.

"At some point during the struggle, the officers on scene noted the male adult was in medical distress and officers initiated life-saving measures," police said.

Personnel with the Gilroy Fire Department were soon summoned to the scene and assumed medical care of the man, including arranging for "the immediate transport to an area trauma center," police said.

The man was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

His identity was not released Monday pending notification of his next of kin.

The Gilroy Police Department says the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office is conducting an independent investigation to determine the cause of the man's death. Also, pursuant with the county protocols, a joint investigation underway with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, police say.

As the investigations continue, Gilroy police are asking anyone with pertinent information to call the GPD Investigations Bureau at 408-846-0350.

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