Sheriff's investigating taser incident involving deputies in Fallbrook

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department on Thursday released a preliminary report by the Homicide Unit based on an ongoing investigation regarding a man who was tased during an incident at the Circle K/Mobil gas station on Highway 76 early this morning.

According to the media release, Fallbrook Sheriff's Substation responded to a call for service at the location for a male adult who was acting strangely and refused to leave the location at the request of employees. The suspect, according to the report, was believed to under the influence of drugs.

When deputies approached and attempted to evaluate the man, the report stated that the man became combative and a struggle ensued, as the deputies attempted to detain him. Two men who were in the immediate area stopped to help the deputies as they tried to gain control of the man.

During the struggle, deputies used a department-issued Taser Conducted Energy Device (CED) to subdue the man. He was ultimately detained and the WRAP restraint was utilized to restrict his movement. The deputies requested medics from the North County Fire Protection District to evaluate the male and it was determined the man should be transported to a local hospital. Before the ambulance left the scene, the man went into medical distress and became unresponsive inside the ambulance.

According to the report, he was stabilized upon arrival at the hospital, where we remains, but his progress is uncertain. The yet unnamed suspect bit a deputy's hand during the altercation and required sutures to close the wound.

Detectives from the San Diego Sheriff's Homicide Detail responded to the scene and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330, or after hours at (858) 565-5200. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.