“The family of former NFL running back Doug Martin has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Oakland police officers, paramedics, and the city, alleging his death in October 2025 resulted from excessive force and delayed medical care. The suit, filed June 23, 2026, claims Martin, 36, died from restraint asphyxia after officers restrained him face down while paramedics arrived over 15 minutes late, according to NBC Bay Area. The Oakland Police Department and Falck Northern California have not commented.”
Restraint and Response: What the Lawsuit Claims
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges Oakland police used excessive force when restraining Martin during a mental health crisis. According to the complaint, officers placed Martin face down while pressing on his back, then turned him onto his side when he became unresponsive, believing he was “sleeping or pretending to be asleep,” per NBC Bay Area and The New York Times. Paramedics from Falck Northern California arrived over 15 minutes after the initial call for service, the suit claims, and “did not promptly provide medical care.”
“Falck paramedics arrived over 15 minutes after the call for service,” the complaint states, adding that their delayed response “caused by Oakland police officers and the FALCK NORCAL paramedics’ failure to provide timely medical care.” The family’s attorney, John Burris, emphasized that Martin was “physically healthy” and that the independent pathologist hired by the family tentatively ruled his death asphyxiation. “There were no indications that he was having a heart attack or anything of that kind,” Burris said, quoting the complaint.
Paramedics’ Delay: A Critical Timeline
The lawsuit details a critical timeline: Martin, 36, fled his mother’s home after a mental health crisis, hiding in a neighbor’s basement where police found him. Officers subdued him during a “brief struggle,” according to the Oakland Police Department’s statement. The suit claims officers pressed on his back while he was face down, then turned him onto his side when he became unresponsive. By the time paramedics arrived, more than 15 minutes had passed, and Martin was already “unresponsive,” the lawsuit says.
“When they arrived,” the suit states, “they did not promptly provide medical care.” A bodycam video released in March showed officers restraining Martin in a home gym before he appeared to “snore.” Paramedics later struggled to transport him, as a gurney could not fit inside the house, forcing officers to carry him outside. Once there, they found him unresponsive and began CPR.
Medical and Legal Questions: The Pathologist’s Role
The Alameda County Coroner’s office is still determining the official cause of death, but an independent pathologist hired by the family concluded Martin likely died from “restrained asphyxia,” according to The New York Times and Fox News. Burris said the family has not yet received the official autopsy or toxicology reports, which he claims are being withheld despite the case being “under investigation” for seven months. “The process for an autopsy should have run its course,” he said, adding that traditional toxicology reports take six to eight weeks while autopsies are conducted immediately.
The lawsuit also seeks to compel the release of records, arguing that the family is “entitled to have it” once the case is filed. Meanwhile, Martin’s brain has been sent to a Boston clinic to test for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition linked to football. A 2023 report by the Boston University CTE Center found CTE in 345 of 376 deceased NFL players, though Burris stated that even if CTE is confirmed, it would not have caused Martin’s death.
The NFL Star’s Legacy and the Family’s Fight
Martin, a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders, earning two Pro Bowl selections and 2015 first-team All-Pro honors. He signed a five-year, $35.75 million contract with the Buccaneers in 2015, per The San Francisco Chronicle. However, his later years were marked by injuries, substance use issues, and disciplinary problems, including a four-game suspension in 2016 for violating the league’s drug policy.
The Martin family, through their sports agency Athletes First, stated he had “profoundly affected his personal and professional life” due to mental health struggles. “They just want to know what happened,” Burris said, highlighting the family’s grief and frustration. The lawsuit seeks damages for wrongful death, medical expenses, and loss of support, among other claims.
City and Agency Responses: Silence and Scrutiny
The Oakland Police Department declined to comment on the lawsuit, referring all requests to the city attorney. A spokesperson for Falck Northern California did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The city of Oakland has also not issued a statement, leaving the family to navigate the legal process without direct accountability.
Burris has criticized the lack of transparency, stating that the “most important thing here is to find out what happened.” The case has drawn attention to how law enforcement and emergency services handle mental health crises, with advocates calling for reforms. “When you call for help and the police come, it’s not a death warrant,” Burris said. “You don’t expect the person to die.”
What Comes Next: Legal and Public Scrutiny
The lawsuit has reignited debate over police use of force and emergency response protocols. With the Alameda County Coroner’s office still processing the official autopsy, the case remains in its early stages. The family’s legal team plans to push for transparency, while the city and Falck face growing pressure to address allegations of negligence.
For Martin’s family, the fight extends beyond compensation. “It’s not knowing that’s the difficult part,” Burris said. “They’re looking for answers, not just financial relief.” As the legal process unfolds, the case could set a precedent for how similar incidents are handled, with implications for both law enforcement and medical response policies nationwide.
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