Man Dies After Scuffle With UP Police
UPDATE: The man has been identified as Thomas E. Klessig, 23, of Dallas. He was a 2009 graduate of Highland Park High School, where he was a wrestler. See below for the full story.
A man died early this morning after being pepper-sprayed following a foot chase and scuffle with University Park police officers.
The incident began at 12:43 a.m. in the 3900 block of Lovers Lane, when an alarm monitoring company asked police to check on a man walking away from a house with a gate. An officer tries to talk to the man, who was uncooperative and pushed the officer down.
When a second officer arrived, they chased the man to the 4000 block of Amherst Avenue, where three more officers helped to restrain him by using pepper spray after he refused orders to get to the ground.
The use of pepper spray prompted a call for paramedics. The man became unresponsive and was transported to Presbyterian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:25 a.m.
UPPD is not releasing the name of the man until his family is notified. The department is releasing dashboard video, dispatch audio, and other evidence to the Texas Rangers, who are reviewing the incident.
I saw a police officer hanging out on Amherst near Tulane this morning. Thought that was strange since they usually patrol the school zones.
The Klessig family will be avenged.