Man Dies After Seizure, Pepper-Spray Incident

THOUSAND OAKS — A Thousand Oaks man died of unknown causes after suffering a seizure and later being sprayed with pepper gas by Ventura County sheriff’s deputies, authorities reported Wednesday.

According to authorities, Marco Marangoni was “acting bizarre and speaking incoherently” when they responded to a disturbance call in a Thousand Oaks neighborhood at about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday.

Soon after they arrived, sheriff’s deputies said Marangoni apparently had a seizure. At one point, Marangoni lunged at the deputies, prompting them to spray him with the pepper spray, authorities said. As paramedics were attending to him, Marangoni stopped breathing, according to the incident report.

Marangoni, 29, was declared dead on arrival at Columbia Los Robles Hospital.

The Ventura County medical examiner has not determined the cause of death, saying officials need to conduct toxicology studies.

“We found no evidence of trauma or injuries to explain his death,” said Craig Stevens, senior deputy coroner. Stevens added that there was no evidence pointing to the use of pepper spray as a factor in the death of Marangoni--whom he described as a “large-framed, big man.”

There have been several instances nationwide of suspects dying in custody after being sprayed by pepper gas. Experts have stated that large-framed men weighing more than 250 pounds are at particular risk of succumbing after being sprayed. Other complicating factors include domestic disputes, drug overdoses or psychotic episodes.

Last May, an Oxnard man died after police sprayed him with pepper gas. Ray Lee Carter, described as a large-framed man, died of cardiopulmonary arrest--meaning he stopped breathing and his heart stopped beating without suffering from a heart attack. His death was later attributed to an irregular heart beat, an inadequate air supply and the cocaine in his system.

Federal researchers have promised to look into law enforcement’s use of pepper spray to subdue suspects, given the number of deaths.

Meanwhile, Marangoni’s family anxiously waited for any news regarding their youngest son’s death. He has a 7-year-old daughter named Jessica.

“They really haven’t given us any details,” said Jane Marangoni, Marco Marangoni’s mother.

Jane Marangoni said her son had been working at the family’s restaurant, Fabrizio’s, in Thousand Oaks. She added that her son had never had a seizure and did not have any health problems.

Born in Ventura County, Marco Marangoni, was a graduate of Westlake High School. His mother described him as a man with a “great sense of humor” and who had many friends.