Doug Martin's parents sue Oakland police over death

The parents of former NFL running back Doug Martin have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Oakland, its police department, and a private ambulance company, alleging that excessive force and delayed medical care led to their son's death last October. The federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday, June -, 2026, by Leslie and Douglas Martin, claims their 36-year-old son died from restraint asphyxia during a mental health crisis.

According to the complaint, Leslie Martin called paramedics on October 18, 2025, after her son began experiencing a crisis. Doug Martin then left the home and hid in a neighbor's house, where Oakland police officers located him in the basement. The lawsuit alleges that after a brief struggle, officers restrained Martin face down while one or more pressed on his back. When they later turned him onto his side, he was unresponsive. The suit states officers initially believed he was "sleeping or pretending to be asleep" and that medical assistance was requested only after he remained unresponsive.

The family's attorney, John Burris, said an independent pathologist reviewed the case and concluded restraint asphyxia was the likely cause of death. "Here's a...