Detectives with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department are investigating the death of a Rancho Cucamonga man who had been detained after allegedly assaulting a deputy, authorities said.
Officers went to the 10100 block of Foothill Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga at 12:22 a.m. Tuesday to check on reports of a man trying to open cars and apartment doors. According to the Sheriff's Department, a man later identified as Mohd Hijaz, 32, was found sitting in a bush yelling unintelligible words when deputies arrived at the scene.
Officers offered remote support while paramedics were called to the scene, the department said in a news release, but then Hijaz approached them and did not comply with warnings to stop. When officers used force to restrain him, Hijaz allegedly punched an officer in the face, the department said.
Hijaz suffered an unspecified “medical emergency” at some point; The department did not say precisely whether that occurred before or after he was restrained. After Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department and American Medical Response personnel arrived, Hijaz was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The coroner's office is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The Sheriff's Department declined to comment further on the investigation.
Law enforcement officials could not say whether Hijaz was suspected of committing a crime before allegedly assaulting an officer. They also did not say how many officers arrived at the scene or whether the use of force to contain Hijaz is being examined.
