Salem man dies in police custody; OSP investigating

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man died at a Salem hospital after police took him into custody Saturday night. The cause of his death is still unknown.

Salem police officers were called out to a local restaurant on the south side of town at approximately 9:40 p.m. on a report of a disturbance. They arrived to find a man who was trespassing at the Best Little Roadhouse.

Witnesses tell KOIN 6 News that the man was acting aggravated when he was in the restaurant. Some people reported that he was yelling at times after being seated by staff. They said that the manager of Best Little Roadhouse went over to talk to him, and he threatened the manager with violence. That’s when the manager called police.

“There was definitely cause for concern, definitely threat of violence so that’s why the police were called,” said Erica Rosborough, who witnessed the incident.

He resisted arrested when officers tried to take him into custody. Witnesses said at some point the man was tased. He continued to struggle even after he was arrested, to the point that officers called in medics because they believed he was in distress.

Medics took the man to Salem Health for evaluation and treatment. However, Salem Police said that later Saturday night that man was pronounced dead at the hospital. The cause of his death is still under investigation.

“I just wish there was a like a hotline for people who are trained to deal with mental illness, and maybe could have calmed down the situation instead of making everything just more tense,” said Rosborough. “It could have had a different outcome maybe. It’s just terrible for everyone, everyone involved.”

Police have not disclosed the man’s identity.

While he was at the hospital when he died, police are treating this case as an in-custody death. The officers involved are now on administrative leave. The Oregon State Police is doing a follow-up investigation.