An investigation has been launched into the death of a man who went into cardiac arrest while in police custody and died at a hospital in the Inland Empire, officials said Friday.
The man, identified as Christian Siqueiros, was first contacted by officers on Thursday afternoon after a report of someone causing a disturbance and behaving strangely, according to the Montclair Police Department.
Siqueiros allegedly "became combative" when police arrived, and officers took him into custody, police said.
While in custody, Siqueiros went into cardiac arrest and later died at the hospital, police said.
His family was overwhelmed by their loss, describing Siqueiros as a proud uncle who was giving, happy and healthy. His alleged good health was the reason his sister Maria Siqueiros couldn't understand how he could of had a heart attack during the arrest.
"They don't need 20, 30, 10 cops to be on top of the guy just to stop him," she said.
One neighbor saw the aftermath and said she witnessed between five-to-eight officers around Christian.
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"When I came out, I saw they were sitting on him and that they had tied his legs," she said.
She said she watched the police try to help him once she thinks they realized it.
Christian died a short time later. Mourners left candles at the spot where he died. He family was left with more questions than answers.
"I just want to know the truth so we can be at peace," his sister said.
Officials from the Montclair Police Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department did not return phone calls from NBC4 by the time of this report.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident.
