The deployment of a Taser and a fight with police led to the death of a man at a restaurant in Salem in late September, an autopsy revealed
Allen James Pitts, 49, died after a struggle with Salem Police officers at the Best Little Roadhouse on 1145 Commercial St. S.E. on Sept. 28. The Marion County District’s Office announced the autopsy results Wednesday.
READ: State police identify man who died in custody Saturday
Oregon State Police investigated Pitts’ death and the Oregon State Medical Examiner ruled his death accidental. The autopsy revealed Pitts had heart disease and died from an irregular heartbeat after the struggle with police.
Police were first called to the steakhouse after managers asked that Pitts be removed for being disruptive. When officers arrived in the dining room a “fight ensued,” according to OSP.
The fight lasted seven minutes and a Salem police officer deployed his Taser with little effect, OSP said.
When backup officers arrived, they were able to handcuff Pitts. While he was inside the restaurant, police noticed that he has stopped breathing.
Medics began treating Pitts and transported him to Salem Health, where he was pronounced dead.
OSP said Pitts has a history of mental illness and had been committed to the Hawaiian State Hospital twice.
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