Former Bucs star running back Doug Martin dies at age 36, team confirms
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star running back Doug Martin has died at the age of 36, the team announced.
Scripps News – WFTS Tampa
Doug Martin died in police custody, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) confirmed after multiple news outlets first reported the news.
The former NFL running back and Boise State standout was 36 years old. His acceptance was confirmed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, October 19th.
OPD identified Martin as “Douglas Martin of Stockton.”
“Prior to his death, Mr. Martin was involved in a break-in at a residence in Oakland,” authorities said in an update Monday afternoon. “A brief struggle occurred while responding officers attempted to detain him. Once in custody, Martin became unresponsive.”
The incident related to Martin’s death occurred on a street near the Oakland Zoo just after 4:15 a.m. local time on Saturday, October 18, according to a previous social media post by Oakland, Calif., police.
“Officers were dispatched to the scene in response to a person breaking into a nearby residence,” the advisory said. “At the same time, officers received a call regarding an individual experiencing a medical emergency, believed to be the same individual involved in the break-in.”
Officers located the individual inside the residence and “a brief struggle ensued.” After being taken into custody, the man became unresponsive and died despite assistance from paramedics and transport to a local hospital. The police officers involved in the incident were placed on paid administrative leave, as is customary.
The Oakland Police Department’s Homicide Division and Internal Affairs Division are investigating the incident, as well as the Oakland Police Commission, the Regional Police Review Agency, and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
The Oakland Police Department says no additional details will be provided until the investigation is complete.
Martin’s family has not confirmed the cause of his death, and the Bucks released a statement calling Martin’s death “sudden.” The family referred to this statement in an interview with the media.
Martin played in the NFL from 2012 to 2018 and was a Northern California native.
