A man died Friday evening after a struggle with police outside of a Haverhill seafood restaurant, officials said.
According to the Essex County District Attorney’s office, the man, who a family member identified as 43-year-old Francis Gigliotti, was acting “erratically” and in a “belligerent manner” when officers attempted to restrain him for “safety purposes.” During the altercation, which happened outside of Bradford Seafood Restaurant & Fish Market on Winter Street, Gigliotti reportedly became unresponsive and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, officials said.
Video recorded by a bystander and posted on Facebook by Latecia Torres, Gigliotti’s niece, shows about a half dozen officers crowding around Gigliotti while he lies face down on the ground and repeatedly yells “help.” A bystander is heard on video telling police to “Be easy with that boy, he has issues.”
Torres said Gigliotti lived in Haverhill his whole life and had recently started his own roofing company with a friend. Torres said she didn’t know of any issues with Gigliotti’s physical health, but said he “struggled with his mental health a lot.”
“My reaction watching the videos was that I was heartbroken, devastated, and angry because there were so many people on top of him,” Torres said. “There’s no way that’s protocol.”
Haverhill police responded to 115 White St. shortly before 6:30 p.m. for a report of a man acting “erratically,” the D.A.’s office said in a statement on Saturday.
“The caller indicated the individual had fallen on the floor when leaving the building, was running in the middle of the street and that he hit a car with his head, then continued down White Street,” officials said in the statement.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Gigliotti “weaving in and out of traffic” and nearly being struck by several passing cars, according to the statement. When officers arrived on scene, they called for an ambulance to “assess his well-being,” according to the statement.
Gigliotti then allegedly ran away from police and tried to enter Bradford Seafood, officials said, at which point officers tried to restrain him for “safety purposes and for the safety of the surrounding public.”
“The officers and male party ended up on the ground outside Bradford Seafood in a struggle,” the D.A.’s office said. “During this encounter, the male party became unresponsive, and first responders attempted lifesaving aid.”
Gigliotti was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, the statement said.
The video of Gigliotti’s interaction with police was shared widely on social media Saturday as tributes poured out to him.
“My uncle loved everyone who loved him, and he adored his family,” Torres said. “His heart was so big, and every time I’d see him, he would always be so happy.”
The incident is being investigated by the D.A.’s office, the Haverhill Police Department, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, according to the Essex County D.A.’s statement.
Emily Spatz can be reached at emily.spatz@globe.com. Follow her on X @emilymspatz.