Man Hit By 'Kinetic Energy Projectile' Dies In Police Custody: Police

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A Buena Park man who was taken into custody Wednesday by the Fullerton Police Department died at a hospital after being struck in the chest by a "kinetic energy projectile" used by the officers, authorities said.

Fullerton police officers were sent to a restaurant in the 1300 block of South Brookhurst Road at around 3 a.m. Wednesday in regards to "two males that were standing at the front of the doors, possibly under the influence of drugs," Fullerton police said in a statement.

One of the men ran away just as officers were arriving on scene and was still at-large, said Kristy Wells, a spokeswoman for the Fullerton Police Department.

The manager of the business was concerned for employees' safety as they began to arrive for work, police said.

"Officers arrived on scene and contacted one shirtless male adult, who was uncooperative with officers' commands. The male began swinging a belt at officers as they attempted to contact him.

Additional officers were requested and once they arrived, they utilized a taser to attempt to subdue the suspect, which was ineffective.

"The suspect continued to act erratically and was uncooperative as he refused to comply with officers' commands," police said.

"Officers then utilized a less lethal kinetic energy projectile and struck the suspect, allowing officers to take him into custody," police said. "At this time in the investigation, it is believed the suspect sustained a significant injury to the chest area as a result of the use of the less lethal kinetic energy projectile.

"Officers began life-saving measures while paramedics responded," police said. "The suspect was transported to a local trauma center where he was later pronounced deceased."

The suspect was only identified as a 50-year-old Buena Park man.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office will conduct an independent investigation of the death.