Death of Ex-Raider Doug Martin in Oakland Police Custody Raises Questions

Questions still surround the death of former Raiders running back Doug Martin, who died after a struggle with Oakland police on Saturday, according to the department.

Officers responded just after 4 a.m. Saturday to reports of a residential break-in in the Chabot Park neighborhood near the Oakland Zoo, the Oakland Police Department said in a statement. Around the same time, the department said officers were notified that a person nearby — who they believed to be the same individual — was experiencing a medical emergency.

“Upon arrival, officers located the individual inside the residence,” the department said in a statement. “While attempting to detain the individual, a brief struggle ensued. After being taken into custody, the individual became unresponsive.”

According to OPD, paramedics provided medical aid to the person suspected of the break-in and took them to the hospital for further treatment, where they died. Police on Monday identified the person as Martin.

The East Bay Times first reported Sunday that the person who died was Martin, who grew up in Stockton and played seven seasons in the NFL, including with the then-Oakland Raiders, before retiring in 2018.

Per department policy, the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while OPD, the Oakland Police Commission and the Alameda County district attorney’s office investigate the incident.

“The Oakland Police Department remains committed to transparency,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement. “However, to ensure the integrity of the investigation, the release of information must be limited at this time. Additional details will be shared as soon as the investigative process allows and in compliance with the law.”

Civil rights attorney John Burris, who has overseen OPD reforms over the last two decades, said investigators should be assessing whether Martin was experiencing a mental health crisis and whether that contributed to his losing consciousness, as well as any drug or alcohol use, or the nature of the tussle he had with officers and the method they used to restrain him.

“It’s not usual for a person to be taken into custody for a burglary and dies shortly thereafter,” Burris said. “Doesn’t have to be the police officer’s fault … but these are the kinds of things they need to find out.”

In a statement to Fox Sports reporter Greg Auman, Martin’s family on Sunday confirmed his death and asked for privacy. The statement said Martin’s cause of death was unconfirmed.

“The Raider family was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Doug Martin,” the team, which relocated to Las Vegas after the 2019 season, said on social media. “Martin joined the Silver and Black in 2018 … and he led the Raiders with 723 rushing yards that season. The condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Doug’s family at this time.”

Martin was born in Oakland and raised in Stockton, where he became a surprising star of the St. Mary’s High School football program.

Tony Franks, who coached him throughout his high school career, said the news of Martin’s death was “shocking.”

“This is really a difficult situation and a tragic loss,” he told KQED. “We need to look after one another. Sometimes people might be going through some challenges and we have to be aware of that and reach out and take care of folks.”

Franks described Martin, who arrived at St. Mary’s hoping to be a basketball player, as grateful, humble and hardworking.

“[He was] just a terrific young man to be around, had a smile that would light up a room,” Franks said.

He told KQED that future football players at the school were inspired by Martin, who came to St. Mary’s without any football experience and was convinced by then-Athletic Director Jim Brusa to try out for the team.

“It’s a story of arriving thinking you’re one thing and then discovering maybe you’re something else, and that’s kind of what high school is all about,” he said. “It was inspiring … and it was just all very exciting for our community.”

After graduating from St. Mary’s in 2007, Martin played four seasons at Boise State University as one of the school’s best running backs to date. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012 and spent six seasons with the team before returning to the Bay Area for a one-year contract with the Raiders in 2018.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected passing of Doug Martin,” the Bucs wrote on social media on Sunday. “From his record-setting rookie season in 2012 to his multiple Pro Bowl selections during his six seasons as a Buccaneer, Doug made a lasting impact on our franchise.”

On the Buccaneers, Martin was a finalist for offensive rookie of the year during his first season and played in two Pro Bowl games. But he also weathered some rocky seasons throughout his career.

He spent most of the 2013 season on injured reserve, and was suspended for four games in 2016 after testing positive for Adderall in violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He was released by the Bucs in 2018 after struggling to come back from the suspension, which extended into the start of the 2017 season.

That year, he was signed by the Raiders and ran for his third-highest total rushing yards after stepping into the starting lineup following an injury to Marshawn Lynch.

He resigned with the Raiders for the 2019 season but was placed on injured reserve and released with an injury settlement prior to the start of the regular season.

KQED’s Sara Hossaini contributed to this report.