Man beaten by police in August dies after life support removed

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. -- The FBI is investigating the death of a diabetic man who lapsed into a coma after a beating by police and died when he was taken off life support.\nFBI Supervisory Special Agent Tom Gancarz confirmed Friday that the agency is looking into whether Jerome Clement's civil rights were violated when police tried to arrest him Aug. 24, the Post-Tribune of Merrillville reported.\nGancarz declined to elaborate, citing agency rules banning the discussion of ongoing cases.\n"I can say we do have an investigation open at this time," Gancarz said.\nFBI spokeswoman Wendy Osborne said the agency has the jurisdiction to investigate all alleged civil rights violations involving reports of excessive force.\nClement, 39, died earlier this month. He had been in a coma since police tried to arrest him Aug. 24.\nOfficers used pepper spray and struck Clement three times with a baton as they tried to subdue him, police said. The city's police chief said after the incident that he believed officers acted properly because Clement smelled of alcohol, became belligerent and tried to punch them during the arrest.\nThe Associated Press left a message seeking comment Saturday with the East Chicago Police Department's public information officer. Calls seeking comment placed to the chief's office rang unanswered.\nThe family, however, said Clement was suffering a diabetic seizure. He went into cardiac arrest as paramedics administered treatment and then fell into a coma.\nToxicology reports have not been released.\nFamily members have said they plan to sue the city.