A man who shot himself in the head Friday afternoon while sitting in the back seat of a Yuma police cruiser, was handcuffed with his hands behind his back at the time.
The man died as a result of a single shot to the head from a .25 caliber handgun.
Yuma police are still working on identifying the 40-year-old man, who was under arrest and being taken to the police station for questioning about a burglary, according to spokesman Clint Norred.
The shooting occurred in the 1500 block of 1st Avenue.
The man, described as being 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 215 pounds, was sitting in the back seat on the driver's side of the cruiser, Norred said.
In that position, a Plexiglas barrier separates the back seat from the driver's seat. On the passenger's side a wire cage separates the two compartments.
Norred said the man had been arrested as a suspect in a burglary that had occurred on the north end of the city just prior to the arrest. The arrest was made by Officer Kevin Caylor, the only officer in the cruiser.
Norred declined to release any information about damage to the cruiser.
When asked whether Caylor knew who he was arresting, Norred said, "People lie to us sometimes."
Norred declined to release any names the man may have used as he was being arrested. He also declined to say whether police had notified any next of kin about the death.
The man was transported from the scene to Yuma Regional Medical Center by Rural/Metro Ambulance. He died later Friday.
Police are continuing an internal investigation into what occurred.
"We're still working on all the details," Norred said.
Norred declined to release any information about whether Caylor searched the suspect or how it was done. Norred said following an arrest like the one Caylor made, the officer has the right to search the suspect.
"For a normal custodial arrest, you're afforded a search incident to arrest," Norred said. During a search, the officer can have the suspect turn out his or her pockets and check his or her ankles and shoes.
However, this is not the same procedure as a patdown, according to Norred. A patdown is a protective check for weapons of the outer clothing of a suspect.
Caylor has been placed on paid administrative leave. Norred said he will remain on leave until the investigation is completed.
Norred said this is the first time he has ever heard of such an incident like this in Yuma.
"I don't recall any type of prisoner shooting himself in the patrol car," he said.
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A.P.
Yuma police are trying to figure out how a suspect riding in the back of a police cruiser got a hold of a gun and shot himself in the car. Police said the 40-year-old burglary suspect was handcuffed. He apparently shot himself yesterday on the way to the station for questioning.
The suspect was taken to Yuma Regional Medical Center where he later died. The man was not identified.
Yuma Police Department spokesman Clint Norred says Officer Kevin Caylor arrested the man at an undisclosed location and was taking him to the station. The shooting happened at 1:43 p-m. It's unclear where the weapon came from or if the suspect had it on his person when he got into the cruiser.
Caylor has been with the department since August 1999. He was placed on paid administrative leave until an investigation is completed.