An investigation was underway Saturday into the death of a man who died after a traffic stop by Claremont police who pulled him over for suspicion of DUI.
At 3:18 p.m. Friday, the Claremont Police Department received two reports of a male acting erratically and possibly under the influence of drugs around Claremont Boulevard and Andrew Drive, according to police Lt. Matt Hamill. One caller said the person got into a vehicle and drove away.
Arriving officers saw the suspect driving and conducted a traffic stop because it appeared he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Hamill said.
“The officers asked the subject to step out of the vehicle, at which point a use-of-force incident occurred,” the lieutenant said. “During the encounter, the subject became unresponsive. Officers immediately initiated lifesaving measures.”
Paramedics arrived and took the man to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Hamill said. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. It was unclear if an autopsy had been planned.
The man was identified as 30-year-old Diego Alfonso Rios of Rancho Cucamonga, in San Bernardino County.
Homicide detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were investigating the death.
Anyone with information was asked to call them at 323-890-5500 or through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.