A homeless man stopped breathing shortly after he was arrested in Coachella on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs and died at a local hospital, authorities reported today.
Paul Anthony Tortorella, 31, was taken into custody around 5 p.m. Tuesday near Dillon Road and Vista Del Norte. He stopped breathing while being transported in a patrol car, and an ambulance was called to take him to a hospital, sheriff's Sgt. Jeff Buompensiero said.
Tortorella was pronounced dead at 7:40 p.m. Tuesday at John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio, according to the Riverside County Coroner's Office. The cause of death wasn't immediately released.
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–City News Service.
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