Fort Worth police officers have been reassigned to desk duties as the department investigates the death of a man who had been left handcuffed in the back of a police vehicle last week, police say.
In a news release, Fort Worth police said the officers confronted the man while responding to a call about an armed man trying to break into a home in the 3300 block of Griggs Avenue the night of July 26.
The man has since been identified as 55-year-old Christopher Lowe.
Homeowners told NBC 5 he was banging on their door, windows and the hood of their car with a metal pipe while asking for help.
The news release said responding officers, who haven't been identified, detained Lowe without incident, but after being handcuffed, he began complaining about having medical issues.
The officers then placed Lowe into the back of their patrol vehicle and continued interviewing witnesses without calling for additional medical help, police said. The release noted that Lowe was conscious and responded to basic questions from the officers.
They returned to the vehicle and found Lowe unresponsive, according to the release. The officers called for an ambulance and provided medical aid.
Lowe was later pronounced deceased at John Peter Smith Hospital. His cause of death has not been released.
The police department's internal affairs unit is investigating the incident while the officers involved conduct administrative duties, the news release stated.
The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office has conducted a preliminary review of the incident.
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The department said investigators have been in close contact with the family of the deceased, who have "expressed the need for privacy and patience during the investigative process."
NBC 5's Alice Barr and Brian Roth contributed to this report.
