SAN GABRIEL, Calif. – Los Angeles County authorities were investigating after a man died while being arrested shortly after they say he assaulted a parking control officer and stole her vehicle, officials said Wednesday.
The parking control officer for the city of Rosemead was punched in the head by the suspect while writing a ticket early Tuesday, sheriff's officials said. He then took her city vehicle and fled.
Deputies caught up with the man about 20 minutes later at a McDonald's restaurant in nearby San Gabriel, where he was screaming at customers. They responded with force after he lunged at one of them, officials said in a statement.
"The suspect was handcuffed, and to prevent him from further kicking, his legs were secured," the statement said.
Deputies said the man became unresponsive after being restrained. Paramedics were unable to revive the man and he died at the scene.
A department spokeswoman said no shots were fired, but didn't specify what type of force was used.
The man was identified as 38-year-old Timothy Shannon McMillan, who was a transient, according to Ed Winter, spokesman for the county coroner's office. McMillan's cause of death has not been determined, and an autopsy is pending, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Four deputies involved in the incident suffered scratches and cuts. The parking officer who was attacked was taken to a hospital and treated for minor head injuries, officials said.
Sheriff's and coroner's officials were investigating.
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