SLO police investigate sudden death of Oceano man after fleeing from vehicle
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - San Luis Obispo police are investigating the sudden death of a man from Oceano after he fled his vehicle early Sunday.
Police said they attempted to stop a vehicle for running a red light at the intersection of Santa Rosa and Peach streets in SLO around 1:17 a.m. Sunday morning.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 56-year-old Richard Archuleta from Oceano, reportedly pulled over near Monterey and Santa Rosa streets.
Officers said before they were able to pull over, Archuleta exited his vehicle and fled the area on foot toward Monterey and Osos streets.
Police said they conducted a search of the area Archuleta fled to, but he was not immediately located.
About 30 minutes into the search, a person walking in the area flagged down one officer and reported a man on the ground bleeding
near the east wall of the courthouse on the Santa Rosa side.
Officers responded to the area and found Archuleta. Paramedics were immediately requested to assess the man's injuries.
Sadly, once on scene, paramedics determined Archuleta had died.
San Luis Obispo Police detectives along with a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Coroner Investigator conducted an additional investigation and discovered that Archuleta had gained access to the roof of the courthouse after he jumped into a secured, fenced area.
Investigators believe Archuleta went onto the roof after he fled from the traffic stop.
This remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the San Luis Obispo Police Department at 805-781-7312 or Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP.
