The Dallas Police Department is investigating a death in custody that occurred on June 28, 2023.
At approximately 1:28 a.m., a Dallas Police witnessed a driver hit another vehicle in the area of 9500 block of CF Hawn Frwy service Road EB, and drive away from the crash.
The preliminary investigation determined the officers crossed St. Augustine Drive and stopped the driver in the of 9500 block of CF Hawn Frwy service Road WB at 1:29 a.m.
The driver, 70-year-old Roy Whittaker, was taken into custody without incident for misdemeanor warrants out of the City of Dallas.
At around 1:49 am, during the search of Whittaker, he became sick and asked officers for help.
Officers immediately requested Dallas Fire Rescue, and the on-scene supervisor told the officers to remove the handcuffs.
At 1:55 a.m., DFR arrived on scene.
At 1:59 a.m., Whittaker was placed on the stretcher and into an ambulance.
In the ambulance, DFR started CPR and requested a DFR engine to respond.
DFR took Whittaker to a local hospital at 2:17 am, arriving at 2:27 am.
Whittaker died at the hospital at 2:42 am.
The driver of the car hit in the initial crash drove away from the scene, and did not return to make a report.
The Dallas Police Special Investigations Unit is investigating.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office and Office of Community Police Oversight were also notified.
The investigation is ongoing and is documented under case number 117244-2023.