Suspect Dies After Being Taken into Custody; 6 Officers On Leave Pending Investigation

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Police said a suspect died right after being taken into custody Monday night. Six police officers have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the incident.

Police said they were called to a Dollar General near S.E. 44th Street and High Avenue to investigate suspicious activity and confronted an unidentified suspect. The suspect, who was wearing a wig, a fake moustache and beard, a ball cap and sunglasses, then dropped a stun gun and ran from police. Police eventually caught up with the suspect, identified as Damon Lamont Falls and said they struggled to take him into custody.

"When officers caught up to him, they struggled with the suspect briefly," said Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Gary Knight. "After getting him into custody, they were attempting to walk him back to a police car when the suspect collapsed."

According to the police report, officers used a taser on Falls, but he continued to struggle with the officers after being shocked. Paramedics rushed the 31-year-old to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The officers involved in the incident are 27–year-old Jacob Cole (four year veteran), 34-year-old Aaron Wake (four year veteran), 27-year-old Zachary Miller (four year veteran), 28-year-old Ramon Castro (one year veteran), 30-year-old Daniel Herring (one year veteran) and 23-year-old Tyler Duncan (one year veteran).

An officer also received medical attention for minor injuries he suffered during the incident.

Falls was convicted of three robberies in 1998, convicted of another robbery in 2000, convicted of robbery again in 2002 and again in 2004. He was also arrested earlier this year for Possession of CDS and Possession of a Firearm AFCF.

Authorities are waiting on the Medical Examiner's Office to determine a cause of death.