Redwood City man dies after being tased

A 55-year-old Redwood City man with a history of mental health issues died after a struggle with four police officers who had been summoned by neighbors reporting that the man threatened to kill his 83-year-old mother, authorities said.

Ramzi Saad stopped breathing during the struggle with police after being struck either two or three times with a police stun gun, according to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, whose office is investigating the death.

Officers were summoned to 523 Lanyard Dr. in the Redwood Shores community Monday evening by neighbors who said Saad was assaulting his mother, believed to be Dalal Saad, at their home.

“The suspect immediately attacked the (first) officer and a struggle ensued,” Redwood City police said in a statement.

At the time of the struggle, Wagstaffe said, Saad was holding medicine bottles that contained drugs related to his mental health condition.

“Additional officers arrived on scene and attempted to detain the suspect, but he continued to violently resist,” police said.

One of the officers fired his Taser in an attempt to gain control over Saad. The suspect, who by then had been handcuffed, went limp, Wagstaffe said.

Paramedics treated Saad at the scene and took him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The four officers involved — Oscar Poveda, Matthew Cydzik, Brian Simmons and Daniel Di Bona — have all been placed on administrative leave, pending a decision by Wagstaffe’s office on possible misconduct. That decision, Wagstaffe said, will come by the end of October.

Saad did not have a prior criminal record with the San Mateo district attorney’s office, Wagstaffe said. Investigators are attempting to locate witnesses and video footage of the struggle.

Redwood City police are not equipped with body- or car-mounted video cameras, Wagstaffe said.