PHOENIX — Phoenix police are investigating a "critical incident" near 51st Avenue and McDowell Road, according to Phoenix Police Sergeant Vince Lewis.
According to a tweet posted by the Phoenix Police Department, Phoenix police responded to a fight inside a Circle K near 51st Avenue and McDowell at 5:50 a.m.
Police a the subject, identified as 49-year-old Alexander Brown, was acting "erratically, paranoid, [and] impaired." At one point, police say, Brown locked the front doors of the store with the customers and staff inside.
The occupants were able to escape unharmed before police arrived and made contact with Brown. The department's tweet states officers took Brown into custody where he "continued to resist until becoming unresponsive."
Officers say while seated in the patrol car, Brown began striking his head on the inside of the vehicle. Authorities say while he was being evaluated, he became unresponsive and was removed from the patrol vehicle.
The man was transported to an area hospital by the Phoenix Fire Department where he was later pronounced dead.
Though police say Brown was acting impaired, it is not clear at this time if he was actually under the influence.
Phoenix police say officers involved in Brown's apprehension were wearing activated body-cameras throughout the incident.
5:50am, 51Av/McDowell, PhxPD responded to fight inside Circle K. Subject acting erratically, paranoid, impaired. Officers took him into custody. He continued to resist until becoming unresponsive. @PHXFire transported him to hospital where he was pronounced deceased. pic.twitter.com/AIJTHO5XvB
— Phoenix Police Department (@phoenixpolice) October 6, 2019
