(CNN)Three Milwaukee police officers have been suspended after a man arrested during a traffic stop Wednesday died in jail hours after he was taken into custody, Milwaukee police said.
Keishon Thomas, 20, was pulled over for a traffic violation around 1:55 a.m. Wednesday, police said. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant and had “suspected illegal narcotics,” Milwaukee Police Chief Norman said Wednesday night. Details of the warrant were not immediately available.
About 16 hours after the traffic stop — around 5:53 p.m. — the man was found to be in medical distress during a routine cell check at the Milwaukee Police District 5 office, Norman said. Officers provided lifesaving measures until they were relieved by the Milwaukee Fire Department, police said in a news release.
The man was later pronounced dead.
Police spokesman Sgt. Efrain Cornejo, who confirmed the three officers were suspended, did not elaborate on the reason.
“The investigation remains ongoing,” Cornejo said via email.
Thomas’ death comes amid heightened scrutiny of cases in which people die or are injured in police custody.
Milwaukee’s police chief was not aware of any physical altercation between officers and Thomas, he said.
The incident is being investigated independently by the Waukesha Police Department, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. The officers involved have not been named.
Plans for a community briefing to discuss the incident are forthcoming, Milwaukee police said.
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