Home Antioch Update: Man Who Died in Antioch Police Custody Arrested Days Earlier Suffering from Hypothermia

Update: Man Who Died in Antioch Police Custody Arrested Days Earlier Suffering from Hypothermia

by ECT

As the Antioch Police Department and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s office continue to investigate an early morning in custody death on February 5 new details have been released.

The death of Wendell Celestine, 37 of Pittsburg, occurred at E 6th Street in Antioch just after 3:00 am where police took him into custody. Police say while they attempted to take Crestine into custody, he fought violently with officers.

IMG_9170Once the officers were able to restrain Celestine, an ambulance was summoned to the scene to treat him for injuries sustained during the fight with officers. As the ambulance arrived the subject began having some sort of medical distress and life saving measures were taken.

Celestine was transported to an area hospital and later pronounced deceased.

According to information released Monday morning:

On February 2, 2016 at 10:40 pm, officers stopped a vehicle in the area of Gary Ave. and Biglow Dr. The front passenger fled from the vehicle and into the Bidwell school campus.

Officers gave chase and lost the subject. Approximately one hour later, officers responded to the listed address on an unknown subject who had gained entry into an occupied house and was bleeding from his mouth and would not stop shaking.

The residents did not know who the subject was. Officers arrived a short time later and determined the subject was the person who had earlier ran from the vehicle.

The subject 37 year old Wendell Celestine was uncooperative and it was determined he had a no bail parole warrant. Celestine was suffering from hypothermia as he was hiding in a creek bed with only shorts on.

Celestine was admitted into a local hospital.

Police stated that on February 3, at approximately 8:20 pm, Celestine walked out of an area hospital against doctor’s orders after being admitted the day before. The hospital notified the Antioch Police Department.

IMG_9162Officers responded and searched for Celestine who was wanted on a parolee at large warrant and has a long history of violent crimes and drug offenses. He was not located by officers until February 5 where they took him into custody and died.

Because this is considered an in custody death, the county protocol was invoked. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, the Contra Costa County Crime Lab and the Antioch Police Department will be conducting an investigation into the facts surrounding this incident.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Vanderpool with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6988. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH

You may also like

5 comments

Jim Simmons 42 Feb 8, 2016 - 9:10 am

I guess everyone who was bitching about Antioch Police can apologize now? Guy sounds like a saint. Runs from police, gets in a creek, breaks into someones home, leaves a hospital against doctors orders and then fights with police. Maybe its me, but this is a series of bad choices, not police behaving badly.

Guilty of Thoughtcrime Feb 8, 2016 - 11:24 am

Yea well our society is ran by humans and some thing we were made in their gods image like some narcissistic teenagers. People won’t think twice about a different mammal dying but omg a HUMAN died??!!! Pull out the red carpet and the $20,000 funeral. We’re just animals boo hoo and this dude just wanted to see the world burn.

Sammy Feb 9, 2016 - 8:13 am

Antioch police is suppose to take people to jail not kill a black man because of his record. You people were treating this man unfair everytime he went to jail beating him and threating him. Then you people are saying you can thank Antioch police for what being killers not actually doing there job but hurting someone until the die. No matter what his background was .alot people have a bad background that doesn’t mean you kill them .your job is to take people in and put of jail. This is not fair he was a father he was family. You people killed him for nothing and think nothing of it.

Subhuman Feb 10, 2016 - 7:35 pm

The only members of American society that have true protection under the idea of “the sanctity of life” are police officers. Even police with similar track records of violence as this man are protected by the law.

Dan Feb 11, 2016 - 12:11 pm

The Antioch police lied to me when they arrested me. Officer allendorph. I hate the police apd because of it. I hope they get in big trouble

Comments are closed.