Chuck Schilken
Los Angeles Times
June 29, 2026 - 7:45 am
The parents of Doug Martin filed a wrongful decease suit alleging that constabulary officers utilized excessive unit successful trying to subdue the erstwhile NFL moving backmost portion helium was “experiencing a intelligence wellness crisis” past October.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday successful the Northern District of California, besides claims that paramedics contributed to Martin’s decease by failing to “provide timely aesculapian care.” The metropolis of Oakland, respective constabulary officers and exigency aesculapian work supplier Falck USA/Northern California were named arsenic defendants.
Martin died Oct. 18 successful a infirmary pursuing his apprehension by officers responding to reports of a break-in astatine a residence. He was 36. His decease remains nether probe by Oakland police.
According to the Alameda County coroner’s office, Martin’s autopsy reports inactive are being finalized. Martin household lawyer John Burris told the Athletic that an autarkic pathologist told the household that Martin perchance died from restraint asphyxia.
“Plaintiffs allege, connected accusation and belief, that Decedent Martin died from restraint asphyxia caused by Oakland constabulary officers and the FALCK NORCAL paramedics’ nonaccomplishment to supply timely aesculapian care,” the suit states.
The Oakland Police Department and Falck Norcal did not instantly respond to messages from The Times.
According to the complaint, Martin was “experiencing a intelligence wellness crisis” erstwhile his parent called for paramedics. He past fled and hid successful a neighbor’s basement, wherever officers recovered him.
“After a little struggle, suspect constabulary officers physically restrained him,” the ailment states. “During the restraint, decedent Martin was placed look down portion 1 oregon much officers pressed connected his back. After a play of time, suspect Officers turned him onto his side.
“When they did truthful decedent Martin was unresponsive seemingly unconscious; However, the suspect officers initially believed helium was sleeping oregon pretending to beryllium sleep. When decedent Martin remained unresponsive, an serviceman requested aesculapian assistance.
“Plaintiffs are informed and judge that decedent Martin did not person contiguous aesculapian attention. Falck paramedics arrived implicit 15 minutes aft the telephone for work and, and erstwhile they arrived, did not promptly supply aesculapian care.”
A Stockton native, Martin was a first-round prime by Tampa Bay successful the 2012 draft. He played six seasons for the Buccaneers, making the Pro Bowl successful 2012 and 2015, earlier spending his last play with the Oakland Raiders successful 2018. In his career, Martin rushed for 5,356 yards and 30 touchdowns.
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