Attorney: Teen who died in police custody was kept on back

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The attorney for the family of a shoplifting suspect who died in Indianapolis police custody says the young man was kept handcuffed on his back for nearly 40 minutes, leaving the overweight, exhausted teen unable to breathe properly.

Eighteen-year-old Terrell (TUH'-rail) Day died Saturday in police custody after complaining of breathing problems. A coroner says he died of a heart attack.

Officers arrested Day after clothing store workers reported a gun-wielding man accused of shoplifting had fled the business.

Attorney Nathaniel Lee said Thursday that the teen ran more than 400 yards and was exhausted when officers found him.

Lee says he believes Day died "unnecessarily" because police put the 5-foot-6 high school senior who weighed more than 250 pounds on his back and kept him in that position.