The incident happened on Friday around 3:30 a.m. following a traffic stop in the area of Dunlop Street W. and Frances Street. The man, who was wanted on an arrest warrant, fled the car and was chased by police on foot. Police found him in the backyard of a residence on Frances Street. A stun gun was deployed during the interaction between the man and the officers.
A medical examiner's report concluded Johnson 52, died of a prone-restraint-induced cardiac arrest, with methamphetamine use being a "contributing factor." Prone restraint refers to the face-down position officers kept Johnson in while attempting to handcuff him in his apartment. It can restrict breathing and can also lead to metabolic acidosis. Across the United States, it's been linked with several other in-custody deaths and many police agencies have since stopped using it.
