SAN ANTONIO – A 51-year-old man died after being hospitalized following a medical emergency during an arrest last month.
According to a state custodial death report, Mark Cardwell died Aug. 26 after officers were called to Ridge Breeze and Ridge Place for a report of a possible DWI.
The report states Cardwell complained of dizziness at the scene. EMS checked him and initially found his vital signs to be normal.
After Cardwell was placed in a patrol vehicle, he complained of difficulty breathing. He was taken out of the vehicle, his handcuffs were removed, and he was placed in a recovery position as paramedics were called back to the scene.
Cardwell was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that day after life support was removed.
“Our thoughts go out to Mr. Cardwell’s family, and everyone involved in this tragic incident. This is still an active and ongoing investigation. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting their investigation to identify the cause and manner of death. As with all in-custody deaths, the Homicide Unit and the Internal Affairs Unit are conducting separate but concurrent investigations. The findings will be forwarded to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office for an independent review,” said the San Antonio Police Department in a statement.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office is still working to determine Cardwell’s cause and manner of death.