Police light, traffic safety officer - stock photo by daniel tadevosyan — Police light, traffic safety officer - Stock Photo by Daniel Tadevosyan

WEST MIFFLIN, PA—The Allegheny County Police Department is currently investigating the homicide of a 31-year-old man from Westmoreland County following his death while in police custody. The man was initially detained by West Mifflin Police on charges of public drunkenness in the early hours of July 5.

Responding to a disturbance call at around 3:00 AM, officers found the visibly intoxicated man attempting to enter a residence near Worton Boulevard and Pennsylvania Avenue. After being taken into custody, he was placed in a holding cell at the West Mifflin Police Department, where he subsequently fell asleep. By 12:30 PM, officers discovered he was unresponsive when they tried to wake him. He was then rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.

On July 8, the man was declared brain dead by doctors, prompting West Mifflin Police to seek assistance from the Allegheny County Police Department’s Homicide Unit. He passed away on July 10, and the medical examiner’s office later ruled the death a homicide.

Further investigation revealed that prior to his arrest, the man had been involved in a physical altercation in Versailles Borough, where he was struck in the face. After regaining consciousness, he was driven to the Uni-Mart on Worton Boulevard and left there by the individual involved in the altercation. The homicide investigation is ongoing, as detectives continue to piece together the events leading up to his death.

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