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Suspect who passed out after fight with deputies in Fallbrook dies

Sheriff’s Department officials said Aug. 22 that a 28-year-old man who appeared to suffer some type of medical emergency and passed out after fighting with deputies at the Circle K/Mobil gas station on Highway 76 Aug. 16, has died.

Marco Napoles Rosales of El Monte was pronounced brain-dead Aug. 21, five days after his violent encounter with law enforcement personnel, according to sheriff's officials. A ruling on his cause of death remains on hold pending an autopsy.

In the early morning hours of Aug. 16, Fallbrook Sheriff's Substation responded to a call for service at the location for a male adult who was acting strangely and refused to leave the location at the request of employees.

The man later identified as Rosales was believed to under the influence of drugs, according to the media release prepared by Lt. Rich Williams.

When deputies approached and attempted to evaluate the man, the report stated that the man became combative and a struggle ensued, as the deputies attempted to detain him. Two men who were in the immediate area stopped to help the deputies as they tried to gain control of the man.

During the struggle, deputies used a department-issued Taser Conducted Energy Device (CED) to subdue the man. He was ultimately detained and the WRAP restraint was utilized to restrict his movement.

The deputies requested medics from the North County Fire Protection District to evaluate the male and it was determined the man should be transported to the hospital.

Before the ambulance left the scene, the man went into medical distress and became unresponsive inside the ambulance. Five days later, despite lifesaving efforts, Rosales was pronounced brain-dead by medical staff at the hospital.

When informed that Rosales was beyond recovery, his family decided to keep him on life support for organ-donation purposes, the lieutenant said.

Detectives from the San Diego Sheriff's Homicide Detail responded to the scene and the Use of Force investigation is ongoing.

The department named the deputies involved in the arrest Aug. 22 as Nicholas Adams, Katherine Barajas, Brandon Delima, Carl Fielstra, Evan McCormick, Christopher Perez, Brian Schaefer and Terence York. Five of the deputies are based at the Fallbrook substation.

One of the deputies who was bitten by Rosales during the struggle received medical treatment and has returned to active duty.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330 or after hours at (858) 565-5200. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

City News Service contributed to this report.

 

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