Springfield Police say a man died in custody after officers made an arrest outside a Walmart on the north side.

An officer, who was working in an off-duty capacity for Walmart off of Kearney, was told two shoplifting suspects left the store and ran to the nearby Culver’s restaurant.

The off-duty officer requested back-up and responded to Culver’s. A woman was arrested at the restaurant.

Backup officers then pursued the man who left the restaurant. One officer in the pursuit used his taser. The officers then caught up with the man at Glenstone and Kearney.

Officers then noticed the man had stopped breathing. They conducted life-saving measures, but he later died at the hospital.

Police have yet to release the man’s identity.

No officers were injured in this incident.

Here is more information provided by the Springfield Police Department:

On April 1, 2019, at approximately 3:34 P.M., a uniformed Springfield Police Officer working in an off-duty capacity for Walmart was told that two shoplifting suspects fled Walmart and ran to the Culver’s restaurant. The off-duty officer requested back-up and responded to Culver’s where he detained the female suspect.

While the officer was detaining the female suspect, the male suspect fled from the restaurant as both back-up officers arrived. Both back-up officers observed and pursued the male suspect on foot, and one officer deployed his taser. The male suspect continued to run west but officers were able to apprehend the suspect northwest of the intersection of Glenstone and Kearney. After the male suspect was secured, officers observed that the suspect had stopped breathing. Officers conducted life-saving measures and immediately requested an ambulance. The male suspect was transported to Mercy Hospital where he later died.

The female suspect was arrested for misdemeanor stealing and booked into the Greene County Jail.  No officers were injured in this incident.

The deceased suspect’s identity will not be released until next-of-kin notifications are made.

Detectives continue to investigate and ask anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).