Lawsuit Alleges Excessive Force in Death of Former NFL Player

The parents of former NFL running back Doug Martin filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday alleging that Oakland police used excessive force and delayed medical care during an October incident that resulted in their son's death. The complaint states that Doug Martin, 36, was experiencing a mental health crisis when officers responding to a 911 call and reports of a break-in found him hiding in a neighbor's home.

It claims officers held him face down while pressing on his back, and that this restraint was a substantial factor in his death. Attorney John Burris, representing the family, said the lawsuit is intended to determine what happened to Martin. He noted that Leslie Martin had called 911 because she believed her son needed medical attention.

Police said at the time that Martin was involved in a break-in and that a brief struggle occurred as officers attempted to detain him before he became unresponsive. The department released several minutes of body camera footage and 911 calls in March showing officers calling Martin by name and briefly struggling with him before physically restraining him face down.

The lawsuit alleges that after Martin was turned onto his side, officers initially thought he was sleeping or pretending to be, and only requested medical assistance after he remained unresponsive. The Oakland Police Department said Thursday it does not comment on pending litigation and referred inquiries to the city attorney's office, which declined comment.

The department also stated that its investigation into Martin's death remains ongoing.

Background The complaint also names Falck USA, Inc. as a defendant.