Former NFL star Doug Martin died after police pinned him facedown during a mental health crisis and failed to get him timely medical care, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his parents.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court, accuses the City of Oakland, several police officers and ambulance provider Falck USA of actions the family says led to Martin’s death at age 36.
Martin’s parents, Leslie and Douglas Martin, allege their son was suffering a mental health crisis in October when Oakland police found him hiding inside a neighbor’s home after reports of a break-in.
According to the complaint, officers restrained the former All-Pro running back face down during a brief struggle, with “one or more officers” pressing on his back. The lawsuit alleges that restraint was a “substantial factor” in causing his death.
The complaint says officers later rolled Martin onto his side after he became unresponsive but initially believed he was “sleeping or pretending to be.” It alleges they did not request emergency medical assistance until he remained unresponsive.
The lawsuit also accuses Falck USA Inc. and its subsidiary, Falck Northern California Corp., of taking more than 15 minutes to respond and then failing to provide prompt medical treatment after arriving.
Representatives for Falck did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Oakland police said at the time that officers encountered Martin while responding to a reported burglary and that a “brief struggle” occurred as they attempted to detain him before he became unresponsive.
The department has released few additional details. On Thursday, police said they do not comment on pending litigation and referred questions to the Oakland City Attorney’s Office, which declined to comment. Police also said the investigation into Martin’s death remains ongoing.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Office said it is still awaiting final autopsy results after Martin’s family requested additional testing.
Martin’s family attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Martin was one of the NFL’s brightest young stars after being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 31st overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft following a standout career at Boise State.
Nicknamed “Muscle Hamster,” he rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. He returned to the Pro Bowl in 2015 and last year was named one of the Buccaneers’ 50 greatest players during the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Martin, an Oakland native who later lived in nearby Stockton, is among more than 1,000 people who have died nationwide after police used force not intended to be lethal, including physical restraints,
Tasers and body strikes, according to an Associated Press investigation. Those cases include George Floyd, whose 2020 killing by a Minneapolis police officer prompted nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of police use of force.
