Police release arrest video of East Bay burglary suspect who died after officers tased him

Warning: The video included in this story contains graphic images and harsh language.

(KRON) — A man is dead and the actions of several Hayward Police Department officers are under investigation after officers fired multiple Taser guns at a burglary suspect on the 100 block of Virginia Street shortly after 4 a.m. on March 12.

The suspect, 42-year-old Nathan Hoang, was allegedly seen wielding a screwdriver and ran from police before officers tased and arrested him. While receiving care from paramedics at the scene, Hoang went into cardiac arrest. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, where he died nine days later.

“Hoang was transported to the hospital in critical but stable condition,” HPD said. “He was later transferred to another facility, where his condition worsened.”

Audio of the 911 call for the alleged burglary and bodycam footage of Hoang’s arrest were released on Aug. 20 in a video edited together by HPD. The video starts with the 911 recording of an elderly Hayward couple shouting after Hoang allegedly broke into their home.

Bodycam video shows officers kick in the front door of the home and track down the suspect in the couple’s backyard. Hoang ran from officers by climbing a fence and jumping onto the roof of a neighboring home, police say. Officers followed him on the ground and a rooftop standoff ensued.

“Officers attempted to talk Hoang down from the roof, but he did not respond,” HPD said. “Hoang eventually jumped into the backyard and ran.”

Minutes later, officers found Hoang in a walkway between two homes and ordered him to get on the ground. According to HPD, Hoang “swung a screwdriver at an officer, posing an immediate threat to officer safety,” before Tasers were used.

“Hoang did not comply and ran while holding a screwdriver,” HPD said. “Multiple officers deployed less-lethal Tasers.”

In the video, a handcuffed Hoang seemingly shouts “kill me” at officers before he is loaded onto a stretcher and placed in the back of an ambulance. Less than 10 minutes later, officer Fiandor is seen giving CPR to Hoang as he lies unresponsive.

“He was awake and vocalizing as he was wheeled to the ambulance,” HPD said. “While under the care of Falck paramedics in the ambulance, Hoang suffered a medical emergency. A paramedic called for officer assistance to perform CPR.”

The Alameda County Coroner’s Office determined that Hoang’s cause of death was “brain damage due to lack of oxygen, resulting from cardiac arrest,” HPD said. “The cardiac arrest was caused by the combined effects of methamphetamine toxicity, an enlarged heart and physiological stress from exertion and physical altercation.”

HPD is investigating the burglary and other charges filed against Hoang in connection to his arrest. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the actions of the officers during Hoang’s arrest.

“An administrative review into police compliance is being conducted by a use-of-force consulting firm in partnership with the department’s internal affairs unit,” HPD said.

Watch the full video provided by police in the player at the top of this story.