Man dies after being taken into custody by Fullerton police

A 50-year-old man from Buena Park died early Wednesday morning after a confrontation with officers from the Fullerton Police Department outside a McDonald's restaurant.

Around 3 a.m., the manager of McDonald's on S. Brookhurst Road called police regarding two men standing at the front of the doors, possibly under the influence of drugs. The manager was concerned for employees' safety as they started arriving to work, police said. 

Officers arrived and tried to communicate with a shirtless man who began swinging a belt around, according to Sgt. Ryan O'Neil, Fullerton Police Department.

"At that time, more officers were asked to respond to the scene. The first thing we did was utilize the taser in an attempt to subdue the subject, which ultimately was ineffective," O'Neil said.

Police say the man continued to act erratically and refused to comply with officers' commands.

Officers then fired beanbag rounds at the man, allowing police to take him into custody.

Investigators say the suspect sustained a "significant injury to the chest area" as a result of the use of the beanbag projectile.

"The goal is to gain compliance through verbal commands and obviously as situations escalate or change (their dynamic), and so we have the option to use the less-lethal kinetic energy projectiles and tasers and other options," O'Neil said.

The coroner will ultimately determine the cause of death.

The suspect's name was not immediately released. 

The Orange County District Attorney's Office will conduct an independent investigation of the death.