By Alex Groves
A 23-year-old man died Monday, Aug. 20, following an incident in a San Juan Capistrano shopping center where police used an electronic stun gun to subdue him, according to an Orange County Sheriff’s Department news release.
Andru Maldonado of San Juan Capistrano died about 5:45 p.m. at a hospital following the incident.
Authorities were summoned to the shopping center in the 32000 block of Camino Capistrano around 4:40 p.m. after receiving a report that man was “acting erratically” and entering and exiting businesses in the area, according to the release.
Officials say deputies tried to contact and later arrest Maldonado on suspicion of multiple violations, including impeding traffic and refusing to comply with their commands. They say he resisted and that’s when the deputies deployed their stun guns.
“The man became unresponsive and both deputies and Orange County Fire Authority paramedics administered CPR,” the release states. “The subject was transported to a local hospital.”
Video posted on social media of the incident shows Maldonado walking in and out of traffic and making busy movements with his arms before he is approached by a sheriff’s deputy.
When an Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy attempts to make contact with Maldonado, Maldonado continues to move away. He’s later seen running into the parking lot of the nearby shopping center with the deputy chasing after him. The video does not show the use of the electronic stun gun.
Officials say the in-custody death will be investigated by the Orange County District Attorney’s office and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Homicide, per protocol. Maldonado’s cause of death will not be released until the investigation is completed.
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