Moscow man dies after being restrained in hospital

A 46-year-old Moscow, Idaho, man died Tuesday at Gritman Medical Center after going into cardiopulmonary arrest while police officers and hospital staff held him down.

Police took John Hukill to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after receiving three calls about a man acting strangely, the city of Moscow said in a news release.

Hukill later tried to leave the emergency room, so hospital staff decided to place him on an involuntary mental health hold. A police officer was assigned to stay with him, the release said.

Two more officers were called after Hukill became combative around 9:30 p.m., the release said.

“He became combative trying to get out of the bed and he actually battered a nurse,” police Chief David Duke said.

Duke said hospital staff and officers were holding Hukill down when he went into cardiopulmonary arrest. After 40 minutes of resuscitation efforts, he was declared dead.

Duke said Hukill’s son was in the room when his father went into cardiac arrest.

The Moscow Police Department requested Idaho State Police help investigate the incident. Duke said a report from ISP typically takes several weeks.