Man detained by Olympia police dies in custody



OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A man died in police custody Monday as officers were in the process of arresting him for assault, Olympia police said.

The man was not immediately identified. Police initially said he was a white man who appeared to be in his 30s or 40s.

Police said employees of the Intercity Transit bus station called 911 at about 2:30 p.m. to say a man had entered their administrative facilities and was acting violently. He assaulted one of the staff members, police said.

When officers arrived, the man calmed down and he was escorted outside. But once outside, the man "again became combative, kicking at and spitting on officers," a news release said.

The man was handcuffed and detained when a sergeant noticed the man appeared ill. Medics who were attending to the injured employee attempted to treat the man but despite life-saving efforts, the man died, police said.

"At this time, there is no indication that any firearm, Taser, pepper spray, or baton was used on the man," the Olympia police news release said.

The incident is under investigation.

Five officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.  The officers were:

















  • Officer Rob Beckwell, 23 years of service




  • Officer Jonathan Leavitt, 2 years of service




  • Officer Ryan Donald, 4 years of service




  • Officer Javier Sola Del Vigo, 3 years of service




  • Sergeant Dan Duncan, 26 years of service