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REDWOOD CITY – Seven police officers were placed on administrative leave Monday after a man they subdued with restraints and pepper spray during an arrest died in their custody. 

Six officers, one sergeant and one trainee will be out of uniform for at least a week while the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office conducts an investigation, said Redwood City Capt. Scott Warner. 

On Sunday at 5:50 p.m. witness called police to report that Rick Escobedo, 39, of Redwood City, had climbed onto his ex-girlfriend’s apartment balcony. When police arrived at the scene and tried to search Escobedo, he violently resisted. 

As the two officers tried to hold Escobedo down and wrap a restraint around his ankle, Warner said, they called other officers for “emergency cover” — a call used only when officers feel they are in danger or about to lose custody of a suspect. 

Minutes later, more officers arrived. Warner said an officer sprayed mace in Escobedo’s face. Finally, they put a “wrap” — a restraining device that works similarly to a straitjacket — around his legs and handcuffed him. 

Warner said the officers put Escobedo inside a police car, called emergency workers to come wash the pepper spray off his face and began interviewing witnesses. 

About four minutes later, Warner said, emergency workers opened the door and found Escobedo sitting in the back of the police car. He was not breathing, and there was no pulse. He was pronounced dead at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Redwood City.