OAKLAND, Calif. — The mother and father of former All-Pro NFL running back Doug Martin have filed a federal lawsuit claiming that excessive police force and delayed medical care caused their son’s death last year. The wrongful death suit targets the city of Oakland, California, multiple police officers, and an ambulance company.
Leslie and Douglas Martin filed the lawsuit Tuesday in federal court, alleging their son was in the middle of a mental health crisis last October when Oakland police officers pinned him “face down while one or more officers pressed on his back.” According to the complaint, that restraint was a “substantial factor” in causing Doug Martin’s death.
Martin, who was 36 years old, is best remembered for his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Just last August, he was honored as one of the top 50 players in that franchise’s history as part of its 50th anniversary celebration. Originally from Oakland, Martin grew up in Stockton, where he played high school football.
His death fits into a troubling national pattern. An investigation led by The Associated Press found that over the past decade, more than 1,000 people across the United States have died after being subdued by police through means not meant to be deadly — including physical holds, Tasers, and body strikes. Among those deaths was George Floyd, whose killing by a police officer in 2020 sparked widespread national debate over the use of force by law enforcement.
At the time of Martin’s death, police stated publicly that he had been involved in a break-in and that a “brief struggle” took place as officers attempted to detain him before he lost consciousness. No additional details were released by the department at that time.
On Thursday, the Oakland Police Department said it does not comment on active lawsuits and directed questions to the city attorney’s office, which also declined to comment. The department added that its investigation into Martin’s death is still underway.
According to the lawsuit, Martin’s mother called paramedics after he appeared to be in crisis. Officers located him hiding inside a neighbor’s home and physically restrained him face down following a brief struggle. The complaint says he was later rolled onto his side and found unresponsive, with officers initially believing he was “sleeping or pretending to be.” Medical assistance was not requested until it became clear he was not responding, the lawsuit states.
The suit also takes aim at Falck USA, Inc. and its subsidiary Falck Northern California Corp., alleging that the company’s paramedics took more than 15 minutes to arrive and failed to provide prompt medical attention once on scene. Messages seeking comment were left for Falck on Thursday.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Office confirmed it is still waiting on autopsy results, noting that Martin’s family requested additional testing. Messages were also left for the family’s attorney seeking comment.
Martin was selected 31st overall in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft after a standout college career at Boise State. As a rookie, he rushed for 1,454 yards and scored 11 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl selection. He went on to earn first-team All-Pro honors and made the Pro Bowl again in 2015.
