An independent team is investigating after a man died while in police custody Saturday night in Seattle.The incident happened Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at about
An independent team is investigating after a man died while in police custody Saturday night in Seattle.
The incident happened Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at about 8:17 p.m. in the 6000 block of Airport Way South.
According to preliminary information released by Independent Force Investigation Team-King County, officers found a man lying on the sidewalk who was unable to clearly speak or care for himself.
The man was escorted to a nearby police car and initially allowed to sit on the front pushbar without handcuffs while aid was requested to evaluate him.
While waiting for aid, the man dropped to the ground and began rolling across the roadway, according to IFIT-KC. The man was then placed in handcuffs.
IFIT-KC said that while responders were still waiting for aid to arrive, the man lost consciousness. Lifesaving measures were attempted, but first responders were unable to resuscitate him.
IFIT-KC said it was requested to conduct the death investigation “for transparency purposes and in compliance with state law.” The team said it will release public notifications weekly until the investigation concludes.
IFIT-KC noted that under Chapter 139-12 WAC, information about an officer-involved shooting or death investigation cannot be released by an independent investigation team without first notifying the non-law enforcement community representative assigned to the investigation and the family liaison for the person involved.
