Full Notification

The Chula Vista Police Department’s Crimes of Violence Unit is investigating the death of a man at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre. The incident began at about 7:30 pm on 7/27/16. Amphitheatre security personnel told police investigators that they contacted the man, described as a heavy-set white male adult in his late 50’s, when he appeared to be intoxicated and moving from seat to seat. They asked the man for his ticket. When he couldn’t produce it they began to escort him toward the exit. At some point the man attempted to flee and they struggled briefly with him. Chula Vista Police Officers who were in uniform working the special event came to assist. The man was screaming incoherently and acting irrationally. Officers handcuffed him and escorted him to the security office. Another brief struggle occurred when he attempted to run away. They were able to detain him again. Medical personnel on scene for the concert evaluated him and indicated he was without serious injury. The man, who was under arrest for public intoxication, appeared to fall asleep seated upright in a chair while Chula Vista Officers completed their paperwork. At about 8:40 pm an officer noticed he had stopped snoring and checked his welfare. He was unresponsive. Nearby medical personnel were summoned but the man was declared deceased at about 9:15 p.m. The Medical Examiner was notified and will conduct an examination to determine the cause of death. The Crimes of Violence Unit investigates all deaths that occur while a person is in the custody of police. Per county protocol the District Attorney’s Office was notified and an investigator responded to the scene. Additionally, members of the Chula Vista Police Department’s Professional Standards Unit were on scene to conduct an independent administrative investigation as is standard procedure.