- Lake County News reports
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Authorities investigate death of man found acting erratically in downtown Lakeport
The man who died was identified as Anthony Cortez, 24, Clearlake, according to the Lakeport Police Department.
Police said that at 10 a.m. Wednesday Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to the area of the Anchorage Inn, located at 950 N. Main St., on a report of a male subject, wearing no shirt and black pants, running around the parking lot and banging on the glass door.
While officers were responding, dispatch provided further information, reporting that the subject was now walking into the middle of Main Street, stopping traffic and bothering people as they were walking. Police said the subject was reported to be in front of Natural High in the 800 block of N. Main Street.
Officers arrived and located a male subject, later identified as Cortez, who matched the description of the subject. He was flailing on the ground near the restroom, according to the report.
As officers approached Cortez he stood up and began walking toward them, flailing his arms and acting paranoid, police said.
The officers took control of Cortez, placed him in handcuffs and sat him on the ground in a seated position. The report said Cortez continued to display erratic, paranoid behavior, leading officers to believe he was under the influence of an unknown substance.
Officers requested medical personnel respond based on Cortez’s behavior. As officers were waiting for medics to arrive, Cortez began flailing his feet uncontrollably and continued to display a state of paranoia, the Lakeport Police Department reported.
Once medical personnel arrived, Cortez was placed on a gurney and taken to the ambulance. While inside the ambulance, and being attended to by medical personnel, Cortez began to have a medical emergency and life-saving measures were performed, police said.
The Lakeport Police report said Cortez was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital where further life-saving measures were performed in an attempt to revive him. Cortez was pronounced deceased a short time later.
The Lakeport Police Department initiated an investigation into Cortez’s death and requested the assistance of the Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Dale Stoebe at the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.