La Mesa

A 38-year-old man died early Saturday, apparently of cardiac arrest, at a local hospital after a scuffle with five La Mesa police officers.

At about 3:50 a.m. Saturday, La Mesa Police Officer H.R. Sargent observed a man carrying a large bag and a portable fan walking on the Baltimore Drive overpass of Interstate 8. When Sargent stopped to question the man, the man attacked the officer and knocked him to the ground, La Mesa Police Lt. John Oleksow said.

Sargent, who was the only officer in a K-9 unit, put out a request for assistance over his walkie-talkie, and four other La Mesa police officers arrived at the scene. The five officers subdued the man using stun guns but no other weapons, Oleksow said.

The man, identified as Sherman Baker of San Diego, collapsed after the officers restrained him. He was taken to Grossmont Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5 a.m.

“We were told there was a quantity of unknown drugs (in his system) by the hospital, and believe he was under the influence at the time the incident occurred,” Oleksow said. “There was no overt action on Sargent’s part to cause the suspect to react the way he did.”

During the melee, Officer C. Medero was bitten by the K-9 unit police dog. Both he and Sargent were treated at Grossmont Hospital and released.

The department will conduct an investigation, Oleksow said.