The in-custody death of a 36-year-old motorcyclist who fled from Anaheim police and later crashed in August was determined to have been accidental and caused from internal injuries sustained in the wreck, according to a critical incident video released by police on Friday, Oct. 20.
On Aug. 17, Clinton Agapinan was riding a motorcycle near Haster Street and Katella Avenue when a nearby patrol car spotted him commit a traffic violation and attempted to perform a traffic stop, Anaheim Police Sgt. Jacob Gallacher said in the video. Police did not specify what the traffic violation was.
Agapinan fled from police, who did not continue their pursuit of the motorcycle, Gallacher said.
A police helicopter called in to locate the suspect spotted the motorcycle about 30 seconds later after it had crashed at the intersection of Katella and State College Boulevard.
Police found Agapinan lying on the curb and attempted to provide medical aid until paramedics arrived, Gallacher said. A handgun was discovered inside his waistband while officers attempted to assist him.
Police did not initially handcuff Agapinan but after refusing to listen to officers’ orders he was handcuffed, according to body-worn camera footage shown in the video.
The handcuffs were later removed, along with his motorcycle helmet, after authorities noticed his health deteriorating and officers unable to find a pulse, Gallacher said.
Agapinan was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
An autopsy conducted by the coroner’s office found that he had suffered from a punctured lung, perforated liver and a lacerated vein caused by blunt force trauma sustained in the crash, Gallacher said. The coroner’s office said the death was accidental.
The department’s Major Incident Review Team and Internal Affairs will continue to investigate the crash to ensure officers followed protocol, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office is…
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