Former NFL running back Doug Martin died last October, after becoming unresponsive in the custody of Oakland, California police. Martin’s parents are now suing Oakland over Martin’s passing.
Via the San Francisco Chronicle, Martin’s parents filed a wrongful-death action in federal court on Tuesday. The lawsuit alleges that Oakland police used excessive force while detaining Martin.
The paramedic company, Falck Northern California, also was named as a defendan. Martin’s parents contends that first responders took too long to respond and failed to provide proper care.
Attorney John Burris told the Chronicle that an independent pathologist has concluded Martin likely died from “restrained asphyxia,” due to officers allegedly pushing his face into the floor and pressing on his back.
“You’d like to think that when police are called to a situation for somebody who is having a mental breakdown, the person doesn’t wind up dead,” Burris said.
Burris added that the official autopsy and toxicology report have not been released by the Alameda County coroner. Burris said he hopes the lawsuit will compel the authorities to disclose the information.
“The most important thing here is to find out what happened,” Burris said. “It’s not knowing that’s the difficult part for [Martin’s family].”
A first-round pick in 2012, Martin played six years for the Buccaneers and one for the Raiders. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro in 2015.
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