A man suspected of ducking out on a restaurant bill died while running from police, authorities say.
Marlon S. Paton was pronounced dead early Wednesday after he and two other people allegedly tried to leave an Applebee’s on Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont, New York without paying their bill.
Authorities say employees called officers to the scene and pointed out the car Paton and the other suspects were in.
The car then turned off its headlights and left the parking lot, hitting a curb, bushes and sidewalk before crashing into a gas station guardrail off of Hempstead Turnpike.
The trio got out of the car and began running, police say. Officers chased down Paton and told him to stop as he jumped over a fence. They then captured the man as he tried to jump over a second fence.
He was unsteady on his feet and lethargic after the arrest, so cops called an ambulance at the scene and the man was taken to an area hospital. He died later Wednesday morning.
Police said there was no struggle, but the man appeared to be in medical distress.
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It's not clear what exactly caused the man's death.
The other two suspects were arrested at the scene.
Paton's death is being investigated by the Nassau County Police Department.
The county medical examiner's office is investigating the case.
