The parents of Doug Martin, a two-time All-Pro running back who died in police custody last October at age 36, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that Oakland police used excessive force and delayed medical care that led to his death.
Leslie and Doug Martin filed the federal lawsuit against the city of Oakland, multiple police officers, and an ambulance company. Martin was a first-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012, earning Pro Bowl selections in both 2012 and 2015.
According to the lawsuit obtained by USA Today, Martin's mother called paramedics when her son experienced a mental health crisis. When he fled to a neighbor's house, Oakland police located him and, as the lawsuit describes it, held him face down while one or more officers pressed on his back.
The suit contends that police did not call for medical attention even as Martin became unresponsive. Paramedics arrived more than 15 minutes later and did not promptly provide care, the lawsuit states.
Oakland police maintained 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 has declined to release further details and said it will not comment on the pending litigation. The city attorney's office also refused to comment, and police indicated their investigation remains open.
Martin played seven seasons in the NFL, including a stint with the Oakland Raiders in 2018. He was originally from Oakland and grew up in Stockton before his standout college career at Boise State. The Buccaneers honored him last August as one of the top 50 players in franchise history during the team's 50th anniversary celebration.
John Burris, the family's attorney, told the Associated Press that Martin's family is determined to uncover what happened. "Unfortunately the litigation is a mechanism to best get that done," he said.
The Alameda County coroner's office is still awaiting test results for Martin's autopsy after the family requested additional testing. Martin's brain was sent to Boston University's CTE Center for posthumous examination to check for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain condition linked to contact sports. Burris noted that while CTE could explain some of Martin's behavior, it would not account for the events that led to his death that night.
Author James Rodriguez: "This lawsuit forces Oakland to answer hard questions about what happened in those final moments, and whether a man in crisis got care or confrontation."
Comments