Man dies after being detained, handcuffed by Phoenix police officers

A man became unresponsive and died Sunday after being detained and handcuffed by Phoenix police officers, authorities said.

The incident occurred after officers responded to a call about an injured person near 44th Street and Thomas Road just after 4 p.m., according to the Phoenix Police Department.

“The initial information indicated that a male was acting erratically, rolling on the ground and hurting himself,” Sgt. Chris Berrelleza said in a media advisory.

When police arrived, they put the man, identified as 34-year-old Devin Alford, in handcuffs as a way to prevent him from hurting himself.

Alford became unresponsive shortly after being detained, prompting officers to remove the handcuffs and initiate lifesaving measures.

However, Alford was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is investigating the in-custody death case, while the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to determine the cause of death.

The Phoenix Police Department plans to release a critical incident briefing video within two weeks.

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