The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is investigating the death of a man after a struggle with police early Friday morning.

At approximately 12:41 a.m., on April 30,  police and fire responded to a reported psychiatric emergency involving a distressed male in the 5500 block of Columbia Pike. The man, later identified as Adil Jouamai, 32, of Fairfax County, was inside an apartment where he was visiting family members. Jouamai was unclothed and uncooperative, refused all verbal commands, and was combative with the officers attempting to assist him. During this encounter, an officer was forced to deploy a Taser to bring Jouamai under control.

A few moments later, the officers noticed that Jouamai did not appear to be breathing. Medics were already on-scene and immediately tried to revive Mr. Jouamai. The medics transported Jouamai to Virginia Hospital Center where he was later pronounced dead.

“This is a very unfortunate incident and we are certainly taking this loss of life very seriously,” stated Arlington County Police Chief M. Douglas Scott. “The Police Department Criminal Investigation Section and Internal Affairs Section are conducting simultaneous comprehensive investigations. Although it is very early in the investigative process, there is no indication at this time that the level of force used by the officers was excessive considering the level of resistance they encountered.”

This is the second incident this year in which a man has died after struggling with Arlington County police officers. On January 17, 2010, 36-year-old William Bumbrey died after a struggle and being Tasered by police. Investigators are awaiting a final report from the medical examination on the death.

Arlington County police officers have used Tasers two other times since January 2010. Neither deployment resulted in death or injury.