Naked Man Dies After Scuffle With Cathedral City Police

A man who had been escorted, naked, by police from the lobby of a downtown Cathedral City motel scuffled with officers an hour later, and then died at Desert Regional Medical Center, Cathedral City police said today.

The man, whose name has not been released, was first spotted causing a disturbance inside the lobby of an undisclosed motel at 10:35 p.m. Saturday. Cathedral City officers responded to a call from the innkeeper, escorted the naked man outside and helped him get dressed, police Lt. Glen Haas said.

Shortly after 11:30 p.m., officers were called to the Cathedral City Auto Center in the 68100 block of East Palm Canyon Drive and found the same man lying on the sidewalk, wearing only shorts, Haas said.

The man tried to run away when he saw the officers, but he was subdued and handcuffed when he attempted to resist, Haas said.

“Shortly after handcuffing the subject, officers saw that the subject appeared to have labored breathing,” Haas said. “Officers attempted to assist the subject until paramedics arrived.

“Paramedics treated and transported the subject to Desert Regional, where he was pronounced deceased.,” Haas said.

Police withheld the dead man’s name. The district attorney’s office was investigating the circumstances of the case, Haas said.