Lawsuit: Death Of Doug Martin Caused By Negligence From Police, Paramedics

The parents of former NFL running back Doug Martin—https://defector.com/doug-martins-family-says-he-was-experiencing-mental-health-crisis-before-dying-in-police-custody">who died eight months ago while in Oakland police custody—are suing the city of Oakland, five of its police officers, and an ambulance company in federal court.

In the lawsuit filed earlier this week, Martin's parents say their son, who was 36 years old at the time, died from restraint asphyxia caused by police officers.

This was compounded, the lawsuit says, by the paramedics failing to arrive until more than 15 minutes after the call for service.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal court in Northern California, and was first reported by Jakob Rodgers of https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/06/24/family-of-former-nfl-running-back-doug-martin-sues-oakland-police-officers-paramedics-in-october-death/">the East Bay Times.

It makes eight claims, including wrongful death by negligence, assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Martin died in the early hours of Oct. 18.

At about 4:00 a.m., the retired running back experienced what his family in the lawsuit calls a "a mental health crisis," prompting his mother, Leslie, to call 911.

But her son ran away to a neighbor's house, two doors down, where Oakland police found him in the basement.

Police restrained Martin, per the lawsuit, placing him face down while "one or more officers pressed on his back." After some time passed, the officers turned Martin on his side.

Martin appeared unconscious, the lawsuit says, but the officers thought he was either sleeping or pretending to sleep.