Lawsuit Planned After Man Dies In Pasadena Police Custody

PASADENA (CBSLA.com/AP) — A lawyer says a lawsuit is planned over the death of a black man after he was restrained by police in Pasadena.

Attorney Caree Harper said Monday a federal civil rights lawsuit will allege excessive force.

Police say officers responding to a disturbance used Tasers on Reginald Thomas, who was armed with a knife, and physically restrained him before he stopped breathing.

Harper alleged that police had also beaten Thomas with a baton and kicked him in the head.

The mother of some of Thomas' children said he was bipolar, and one caller to 911 had said he might be under the influence of drugs.

The family attorney acknowledged Thomas had mental issues but would not be specific.

The death of Thomas triggered Black Lives Matter protests in Pasadena.

The LA County Sheriff's Department has taken over the investigation into the incident.

The coroner's office is running toxicology tests as part of Thomas' autopsy.

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