INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is giving a timeline on what happened leading up to a man's death while in custody.
IMPD officers were dispatched to 5800 Cooper Road just after 11 a.m. for a call of a man walking in and out of traffic.
The Marion County Coroner's office has identified the man that died as 65-year-old Paul Daniels.
The coroner says a cause and manner of death are still pending. IMPD did report the coroner found no blunt force trauma or signs of asphyxiation.
When officers arrived in the area, they located the man stumbling in and out of traffic.
The officers attempted to communicate with the man, who they said suddenly turned combative.
Officers then attempted to take the man into custody, but he resisted.
Once in custody, the man began to have difficulty breathing.
EMS arrived on the scene and began aid, but the man was pronounced dead shortly after.
The investigation is ongoing. Homicide will be investigating the death and there will also be an internal administrative review of the incident.
In Custody Death Investigation Timeline
- 11:09 a.m. - Anonymous caller reported seeing an “older male wearing, all read, walking in the street stumbling.
- 11:10 a.m. - Officers #1 and Officer #2 were dispatched on a Check the Welfare Run at 5800 Cooper Rd. Officers were given the description of an “older, black male, all red, walking in the street stumbling around.”
- 11:15 a.m. - Officer #1 marks himself on the scene by using his in-car laptop.
- 11:17 a.m. - Officer #1 changes his mark out location to 5700 Cooper Road through communications.
Witness stated that she observed the officer in the street with the decedent. The witness goes on to say that the victim was “combative”.
- 11:20 a.m.- Officer #1 broadcasts over the radio that he has a mild resistor
Witness stated that she observed the Officer #1 attempt to handcuff the decedent after they were out of the street.
Witness said that she observed the decedent with one armed handcuffed and the other was flaying. She went on to say that once on the ground, the decedent continued to kick at officer #1.
The witness left the scene as Officer #3 was arriving.
- 11:20 a.m. - Officer #2 backs on the run to assist
- 11:21 a.m. - Supervisor #1 backs on to the run.
- 11:22 a.m. - Officer #2 arrives on scene
- 11:28 a.m. - Indianapolis Emergency Services (IEMS) dispatched to the scene.
- 11:31 a.m. - EMS arrived and began rendering aid
- 11:42 a.m.- Medics attempting lifesaving procedures.
- 11:42 a.m. - Homicide Investigators are notified and requested to call the on scene supervisor.
- 12:07 a.m. -Daniels was pronounced by medics.
- 12:29 a.m. - A Missing Persons Run was called in to communications.