A 60-year-old Manteca resident who was detained after callers reported him acting erratically on April 10 died two days later at a local hospital, and police are stressing that officers were not the cause of his death. The man, identified as Roy Francisco Craig, became unresponsive during the booking process and was taken to a hospital, where he later died. The San Joaquin County Medical Examiner carried out an autopsy and issued a preliminary finding of natural causes, while toxicology results are still pending.
Police Release Details On The Encounter
In a Facebook post, the Manteca Police Department said officers were called to the 1600 block of North Main Street on April 10 for reports of a man acting erratically. Officers said they determined Craig appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and unable to care for his own safety. He was taken into custody under Penal Code 647(f), according to the department.
In that same post, police said no taser was used, no injurious force was used during the encounter, and that illegal narcotics were found among Craig’s personal belongings.
Local Reporting Confirms The Timeline
Local coverage has tracked closely with the department’s account. Reports stated that Craig became unresponsive during the booking process, that emergency personnel then transported him to a hospital, and that he died there two days after his arrest. Those reports also noted that the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on April 13 and issued a preliminary finding of natural causes while toxicology results are still pending, according to FOX40.
Autopsy, Toxicology And What Comes Next
The San Joaquin County Medical Examiner’s office says autopsy work and related laboratory testing can take weeks or even months to wrap up, and that early findings sometimes change after toxicology results are in. The office’s public FAQ notes that these investigations often require additional testing before a final cause and manner of death can be determined, according to the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner.
How The Law Frames Police Action
Police said Craig was detained under California Legislature section 647(f). That provision covers public intoxication and other forms of disorderly conduct and allows officers to arrest someone or place them in civil protective custody when the person is in a public place, under the influence, and unable to care for their own safety.
What Officials Say Now
The Manteca Police Department said it put out its detailed post "in response to rumors and inaccurate information circling" about Craig’s death. The department said it will release updates if the medical examiner’s final report or toxicology findings change the current picture. For now, investigators say no injurious force was used during the encounter and that the county medical examiner will make the final call on cause and manner of death once all testing is complete.
