DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Police say a homeless man has died after being arrested as part of a panhandling crackdown on Daytona Beach’s Boardwalk.
Chief Mike Chitwood says police were at the beach Wednesday night in response to complaints about aggressive panhandling near Joe’s Crab Shack. Seven men were arrested, put into a police van and taken to the Volusia County Jail.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports six men got out of the van at the jail. One man appeared to be sleeping and couldn’t be awakened.
Chitwood says a medical issue is suspected in the death of the 46-year-old man. He says the man was habitually arrested for panhandling and having open containers.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.