A Buena Park man acting erratically in front of a McDonald’s in Fullerton on Wednesday, March 6, was approached by police, who unsuccessfully tried to detain him with a Taser, and then was injured when struck by a beanbag and died at a hospital, authorities said.
Officers attempted to help the 50-year-old man before he was taken to a trauma center.
Police received a call about 3 a.m. of two men acting erratically and possibly under the influence of drugs in front of the restaurant in the 1300 block of South Brookhurst Road, Sgt. Ryan O’Neil said. A restaurant employee called police, concerned about the welfare of employees.
The restaurant’s drive-thru is open 24 hours. The lobby, which is open from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., was closed at the time.
Police arrived to find one of the men shirtless and swinging a belt.
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The man was uncooperative, prompting officers to use the Taser, which was ineffective.
“The suspect continued to act erratically and was uncooperative as he refused to comply with officers’ commands,” police said in a statement.
The police then fired the beanbag round in order to take him into custody, they said.
Whether police contacted the second man was unclear.
Per standard policy in Fullerton police shootings, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office was notified of the death and responded to the restaurant to investigate.