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Man hospitalized after altercation with Anaheim police has died
Fermin Vincent Valenzuela, 32, who was placed into a medically induced coma after suffering a medical emergency during an altercation with Anaheim police on the morning of Sunday, July 5, 2016, died later that day, the Anaheim police chief has confirmed.
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A man who was hospitalized following a confrontation with Anaheim police over the Fourth of July weekend has died.
Fermin Vincent Valenzuela, 32, died Sunday afternoon, Anaheim police Chief Raul Quezada confirmed in a written statement.
"While any loss of life is a tragedy, the death of Mr. Valenzuela while in our custody is particularly impactful and I express my sincere condolences to his family," Quezada wrote.
The incident began at about 9:15 a.m. on July 2 in the 2600 block of West Broadway Avenue when police received a call of a man following a woman home. A "lengthy physical confrontation" ensued, and at some point Valenzuela went into "medical distress," Quezada said.
Officers performed first aid on Valenzuela and called paramedics, who then transported him to a local hospital, Anaheim police spokesman Sgt. Daron Wyatt told KPCC at the time.
In a statement, the Orange County Coroner's Division said Valenzuela died at West Anaheim Medical Center at 2:47 p.m. Sunday. An autopsy is pending.
All officers involved in the altercation were wearing body cameras, and the footage has been shared with the DA's office, Quezada said.
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The Orange County District Attorney's office, which is investigating the death, released the following statement on Monday:
“The OCDA is investigating the custodial death of 32-year-old Fermin Valenzuela. At the end of the investigation, the OCDA will release a full factual detailed report regarding this incident. It is the policy of the OCDA office to not release further details at this time.
"The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Stan Berry at (714) 347-8864.”
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This story was updated with the district attorney's statement.
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