Man dies in Maplewood while in police custody

A man has died in Maplewood while he was in police custody Friday morning.

According to the Maplewood Police Department, at 5:35 a.m. Friday, an officer stopped a vehicle in the White Bear Avenue N. and Lydia Avenue area.

The vehicle was pulled over on suspicion of stealing propane tanks from a local gas station. The officer made contact with the driver and verified that he was the suspect in the theft.

The officer arrested and handcuffed the suspect before placing him in the back of a squad car while continuing his investigation.

While the suspect was in the squad car the officer noticed the suspect appeared to be having a medical issue. The suspect then notified the officer that he had ingested some drugs.

Paramedics were summoned to the scene where they treated the suspect as his condition worsened. The suspect was transported to St. John's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to the release, there was no physical struggle between the officer and the suspect, and medical attention was summoned when the suspect's condition was observed.

The case is being investigated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Body camera footage of the event was recorded.