PHOENIX (CBS5) -
Officials have finished the autopsy for a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office inmate who was found not breathing in his jail cell in December 2011.
The autopsy, which was completed by Maricopa County Medical Examiner Dr. William Stano on Wednesday, found the cause of death for Ernest Marty Atencio, 44, to be "complications of cardiac arrest in the setting of acute psychosis, law enforcement subdual and multiple medical problems."
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's office said on Dec. 15, 2011, a woman called 911 after Atencio allegedly walked up behind her and began yelling at her.
Atencio was arrested for assault and was held in Phoenix police custody.
An officer used a stun gun to subdue him, his family said, and he was placed in a safe cell, where he was under observation by medical personnel. When they checked on him about 15 minutes later, the staff found him not breathing, according to Jack MacIntyre, a deputy chief with the sheriff's office.
In an official statement, MacIntyre said medical staff initiated CPR and other resuscitative efforts before the arrestee was taken to a hospital for treatment.
He remained in critical condition until Dec. 20, 2011, when he was pronounced dead.
Sgt. Steve Martos with the Phoenix Police Department said based on their preliminary investigation, Phoenix police officers did not Taser Atencio.
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Ernest Marty Atencio
