‘It’s really tragic’: Details emerge after former NFL star Doug Martin’s death in Oakland police custody

OAKLAND Former NFL running back Doug Martin spent his final moments alive Saturday morning wandering in the dark through the backyards and banging on the front doors of his neighbors houses in the Oakland hills sources communicated the Bay Area News Group Martin s subsequent death after what police described as a brief struggle with officers inside one of those homes sent shockwaves through the city stunning those who recalled the former All-Pro running back s quick burst on the football turf and easygoing temperament off of it Two days later questions mounted about the Oakland Police Department s actions before dawn Saturday along with the factors that appeared to lead Martin inside his neighbor s home and the exact circumstances around his death in police custody It s tragic it s really tragic declared his neighbor Lynne Belmont It was an abrupt shocking end for Martin a -year-old raised in Stockton who had quietly lived in Oakland of late after ending his playing career with the Oakland Raiders Multiple people called around a m Saturday as Martin went door-to-door on the block of Ettrick Street sources commented He had been staying in a longtime family home on that block which sits atop an Oakland hills neighborhood near the Oakland Zoo Police initially received a call about a person current into a home on that street which a source mentioned had been occupied at the time They simultaneously received notice that a person thought to be a burglar was having a curative crisis according to a announcement disclosed Sunday by the Oakland Police Department A brief struggle ensued when officers contacted the suspected burglar inside a house and tried to detain him police mentioned Martin then became unresponsive after being taken into custody according to Oakland police Oakland police did not respond to multiple requests by this news organization for further details City and police agents have yet to release police radio and dispatch recordings from the encounter which were in the past few days encrypted and shielded from the citizens s ear The police department also has yet to announce how multiple officers have been placed on paid administrative leave as is customary following an in-custody death On Monday Mayor Barbara Lee issued a message mourning Martin s death and noting she had reached out to Martin s family Lee hailed him as an Oaklander who had a distinguished NFL career adding that our condolences are with his family and loved ones The family has requested privacy Martin did not seem much involved in Oakland s professional sports district a tight-knit social circle that includes former big-league athletes and coaches Several long-timers contacted for this story had not been aware that Martin had even resided in Oakland John Beam the longtime athletics director at Laney College who frequently introduces young standout athletes to retired pros in the area had not been aware that Martin had even resided in Oakland On his journey from high school stardom in Stockton to NFL fame however Martin was as memorable a running back as the coaches who crossed paths with him could remember He was the kind of guy who really just absorbed everything you tried to teach him noted Earnest Byner a former NFL all-pro who was Martin s running back coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers He could do anything you questioned him to do and he had no doubts he could do it It was the kind of inner confidence that made the relatively undersized -foot -inch tall performer nicknamed Muscle Hamster eager to take on more physically taxing assignments such as blocking heftier linebackers But Martin truly shone with the ball in his hand coaches revealed zipping downfield with a springy first step A decorated college career at Boise State where he logged yards and touchdowns led him to be drafted in the first round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Martin had been known around the college campus for his bounding social force He rode a remote-controlled electric skateboard to classes forged close locker-room friendships and even embraced the popularity of Teach Me How to Dougie a hit song with a signature dance move that shared his name He was just having fun playing ball explained Keith Bhonapha the college s running-back coach at the time He really felt at home there Martin s NFL draft-day party at his relatives house in the Oakland hills was uniquely festive recalled Tony Franks his high school coach in Stockton Television trucks lined the street and dozens of people cheered when the St Mary s High School star received a call from the Buccaneers at the end of the first round Martin s running style was prototypical for the time powerful compact explosive he commented yet nimble enough to change direction on a dime He had such natural strength leg strength body strength Franks reported The force he could create by accelerating was just tremendous Life in the NFL brought more ups and downs After a breakout rookie season he suffered a torn labrum that sidelined him for much of his follow-up campaign He made two All-Pro teams in a career that lasted seven seasons rushing for over yards and two touchdowns before retiring in In Martin was suspended four games for violating the NFL s substance abuse framework after testing positive for a banned substance In a comment at the time Martin noted he initially considered appealing the penalty but had decided instead to seek rehabilitation My shortcomings he commented of his off-the-field life have taught me both that I cannot win these personal battles alone and that there is no shame in asking for help Bhonapha an Oakland native who played football at Skyline High School visited Martin sometime during the Tampa Bay years Over a steak dinner the coach recalled Martin spoke sentimentally about his Boise State years reminiscing about the familiarity and friendships that came before the realities of adulthood The amount of calls I ve gotten from teammates since this weekend asking what happened guys who were really close with him announced they hadn t talked to him in a couple years Bhonapha commented But even amid the shock of Martin s untimely passing those who witnessed the Stockton kid s rise to the sport s top ranks recalled the determination that had brought him there He had maybe gone through being doubted because of his size at one point Byner announced But he never doubted what he could do and we didn t either Jakob Rodgers is a senior urgent news reporter Call text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at - - or email him at jrodgers bayareanewsgroup com