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Suspect dies after arrest struggle in south Modesto
• Arrested on Imperial Avenue in south Modesto
Police tape

A suspect who was being arrested in the 1000 block of Imperial Avenue in south Modesto Tuesday evening, July 16 while flipping out in an “altered state” has died, the Stanislaus Sheriff’s Department announced.

The man who died Wednesday morning was identified as Rudy Santillan, 36, of Modesto.

The department released a statement saying that at 6:44 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, deputies were dispatched to a home where an altercation broke out between a father and his adult son who was reportedly “going crazy” and “breaking everything.” By the time deputies arrived, the altercation moved outside. Multiple witnesses reported to 911 dispatchers that the incident escalated to involve around 30 gang members, with at least one man armed with a gun.

Deputies arrived and found Santillan in a nearby lot and found him to be in what was described as an altered state.

When deputies attempted to arrest him the suspect resisted and physical restraint, tasers and a K-9 were used to subdue him.

During the struggle, deputies requested an ambulance to move to the location in standby mode.

After gaining control of the man, deputies saw him lapse into unconsciousness. Deputies began to initiate life-saving measures on him until paramedics arrived and transported him to Doctors Medical Center where he was treated and later died early this morning.

The death is being investigated by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department Crimes against Persons Team and Sheriff’s Department Internal Affairs Division. Sheriff Jeff Dirkse said the department is working on releasing the body-worn camera video pending investigative interviews and talks with legal counsel.

The deputies involved in the incident and their years of service were identified as: Miguel Garcia (three years); Eric Torres (16 years); Dustin Willey (three years); Alberto Navarro (two years); Eric Garcia (four years); Benjamin Carnes (two years); Barry Balance (22 years); Morin Yom (six months); Colton Hughes (one year); Robert Domingos (one year); and Sergeant Danny Anderson (11 years).