Man Dies After Encounter With San Diego Police Outside Popular Downtown Dive Bar

A man died after an encounter with San Diego Police Department officers outside a dive bar in the Gaslamp Quarter on Saturday night.Ìý

The incident unfolded on the evening of January 25, 2025, around 8:15pm when police were called to address a disturbance involving a combative individual who had been ejected for causing a scene inside Star Bar at 423 E Street in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. According to reports from the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the man had assaulted a security guard by biting him on the arm while being removed from the bar.

By the time the first officer arrived at the scene minutes later, the security guard and another individual were already restraining the man on the ground. The officer promptly handcuffed the man, who allegedly continued to struggle, leading to a call for medical assistance and additional police support.

A second officer arrived shortly after and reportedly secured the man's legs. Despite these efforts, by 8:26pm, when San Diego Fire Department medics reached the scene, they found the man to be unresponsive with no pulse. Emergency medical services began life-saving procedures immediately, but their efforts were in vain as the man was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The two officers involved in the incident have been with the SDPD for over four years and are part of the Central Division's patrol unit. Neither officer was injured during the altercation. The identity of the deceased has not been disclosed to the public as of yet.

Following protocol for in-custody deaths, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation. This is mandated by a countywide agreement designed to ensure impartiality in cases where law enforcement officers are involved. The Sheriff’s Office is tasked with gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and piecing together the circumstances that led to the man's death. Once their investigation concludes, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office will review the case to assess any potential criminal liability on the part of the officers involved. In addition, the SDPD will conduct its own administrative review to look into the conduct and procedures followed by the officers during the incident.

The Sheriff's Office has encouraged anyone with information about the incident to come forward, providing contact numbers for the Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.