The Phoenix Police Department is currently in the throes of a death investigation, following the demise of a 33-year-old man, who lost his life hours after being taken into custody on January 10. The deceased has been identified as Turrell Dantae Clay, as detailed by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Reportedly, Clay had an outstanding felony warrant and attempted to elude police, which led to a confrontation near Osborn Road and 39th Avenue. Clay, armed with a gun, fled from the officers and scaled onto the roof of a home, precipitating the use of less-than-lethal means by the officers to bring him down, FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
Following the roof episode, "Once Clay was off the roof, officers used physical force during a struggle to get him handcuffed. Once in custody, officers called for paramedics to assess Clay. Phoenix Fire evaluated Clay and released him to officers before leaving the scene," Sgt. Brian Bower with the Phoenix Police Department stated, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
However, the situation took a dire turn when Clay voiced his struggles with breathing, prompting officers to transport him to a nearby hospital. "A surgical procedure was performed and Clay did not survive," 12 News noted. The county medical examiner is tasked with determining the exact cause of Clay's demise.
