Black Man dies after Alabama police pepper spray him in scuffle with officers

A man collapsed and died while in Tuscaloosa, Ala., police custody shortly after officers pepper sprayed and handcuffed him Friday night, authorities said.

A caller told 911 dispatchers that a man later identified as Anthony Ware was sitting on a porch at Crescent East Apartments and more importantly, he had a gun, Tuscaloosa police Sgt. Brent Blankley said of the fateful 9:20 p.m. call.

The 35-year-old suspect already had a warrant out for his arrest for previously attempting to elude police.

He fled into the nearby woods at the sight of six police officers, but when he and the officers came out of the woods, Ware was dead.

No gun was found, according to the Tuscaloosa News.

It’s not clear what led to Ware’s death at this time, but authorities say the officers caught up with Ware and were apparently forced to use oleoresin capsicum, commonly known as pepper spray, during the arrest.

He collapsed while officers walked the handcuffed 260-pound man out of the woods.

An officer attempted to resuscitate Ware, but he was declared dead nearly an hour later at a local hospital.

Ware’s brother was given permission by police to go with him to the hospital, Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Lyn Head said at a press conference.

“I do want everyone to know that throughout the process of the incident I noted compassion on the part of each of the officers involved with respect to Mr. Ware and his family,” Head said.

Ware’s death is being investigated by the county’s homicide unit — a standard procedure for the agency, Blankley explained.

There is body cam and dash cam footage of the arrest, but it won’t be released until the police investigation has been completed. Preliminary results from an autopsy are also expected by Monday.

The six officers have not been placed on administrative leave as of Saturday afternoon, AL.com reported.

– Nydailynews