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Man Dies after Struggle with Police
Questions of police brutality arise after a man dies in police custody in Moreno Valley.
Raymond Johnson, 41, was confronted by Riverside County Sheriff's deputies at 6 p.m. on Friday in the drive-thru exit at a Burger King in Moreno Valley. Investigators told ABC 7 that Johnson was agitated and throwing food and money in and out of the car, and he refused to get out of the car.
What happened next is what is in question.
ABC 7 obtained video of the struggle that saw six or seven deputies try to get Johnson out of the car while hitting him with what looked like a baton. It also appeared that deputies were jumping on Johnson.
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Johnson stopped breathing after he was taken into custody, and he died at the hospital. The coroner will determine the cause of death including if drugs or alcohol were involved.
Johnson's widow, Lawnda Johnson, wants answers. "My biggest question is what happened? I stand here today a widow with no answers," Johnson told ABC 7.
Riverside Sheriff's Central Homicide Unit is investigating.
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