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Little Rock man dies in police custody after he stopped breathing during arrest

An investigation is underway after a Little Rock man died at a hospital after he went into "medical distress" during an attempted arrest by an off duty deputy.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An investigation is underway after a Little Rock man died at a hospital after he went into "medical distress" during an attempted arrest by an off duty Pulaski County deputy.

On Friday, December 10, the off duty deputy was working security at Movie Tavern when 30-year-old Terence Caffey was allegedly attacking employees.

When the deputy, who has just finished his shift, returned to the building he saw "several employees and a subject fighting."

The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office said once the deputy tried to arrest Caffey "a struggle ensued." Officers with the Little Rock Police Department were called to assist with the arrest at some point, but the level of involvement is unknown at this time.

Once arrested, medical personnel were called to the scene. In a press release, the sheriff's office said Caffey went into "medical distress."

"While being examined the suspect stopped breathing and CPR was started," the original report stated.

Caffey was then transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. It is not known if he died at the movie theater, on the drive to the hospital, or at the hospital.

An internal investigation is being done regarding the incident and "the employees involved in the incident" are on administrative leave.

The name of the deputy involved has not been released at this time.

Dani Caffey, Terence's cousin, said that information on the case should be released Wednesday for the family to review. She said that although the two were cousins they were raised like siblings.

She said she and the family just want accurate information in his death and that she is doing her "part with bringing awareness to the situation."

The family and lawyers met with police Thursday afternoon.

The Sheriff's Office didn't want to make a statement on the incident, and a family lawyer also didn't want to comment. He'd only say they were shown a video of the incident. 

Cheryl Caffey is Terence's mother. 

She walked out of the meeting after telling THV 11 that she couldn't watch it. The images of what happened to her son were described as "disturbing."

We will update this article with more information as it becomes available.

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