Horrifying video of former NFL running back Doug Martin’s October arrest has been released by Oakland police months after his death in the department’s custody.
Police body-cam footage and video from mounted surveillance cameras show the Tampa Bay Buccaneers star belligerently breaking through a fence at a residence in Oakland Hills.
Martin is heard yelling as police approached and became even angrier while resisting arrest in the clip, first published by TMZ and NBC Bay Area. At one point in the footage, he is seen running into a back yard and breaking a window. Martin was ultimately arrested and handcuffed in a home gym towards the end of the clip.
Tragically, he became unresponsive while in police custody and was later pronounced dead, according to authorities.
The 36-year-old’s worried family called 911 that evening to say he was going through a mental health episode.
‘Doug’s parents were actively seeking medical assistance for him and contacted local authorities for support,’ Martin’s agent, Brian Murphy, said in a statement released after his death.
Police body-cam footage and video from mounted surveillance cameras show the Tampa Bay Buccaneers star belligerently breaking through a fence at a residence in Oakland Hills
Martin had been battling mental health issues prior to his tragic death in October of 2025
‘Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down, where he was taken into custody by police.
‘An investigation into what transpired as he was detained is underway.’
Martin’s family has retained civil rights attorney John Burris, according to Oaklandside.com. Burris told the website the family has no current plan to take legal action against the department as it waits for test results.
‘I’m not presuming in this case that legal action needs to be taken until we’ve reviewed all the reports,’ Burris said. ‘Was it a medical condition? CTE? The police? While we wait for the investigation to be completed, the cause of death is still unclear.’
Burris’ mention of CTE, the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is significant. The family quickly donated Martin’s body to the Boston University CTE Center following his death.
The disease, which can only be diagnosed posthumously, has been linked to a number of suicides among former NFL players, including Junior Seau, Aaron Hernandez and Dave Duerson.
Doug Martin is seen carrying the ball during a Tampa Bay Buccaneers walkthrough in 2017
Burris was asked about the officers’ procedure in arresting Martin, but the attorney said the police video was inconclusive.
‘I did see a compilation or summary of the videos, but that doesn’t give you enough perspective on whether there was misconduct on the part of the officers,’ he said.
Burris did express some frustration with delays in the police investigation into Martin’s death: ‘It’s disappointing to me that it’s taking this long, but for a high-profile case such as this, it’s not surprising.’
Martin went from Stockton, California’s St. Mary’s High School to Boise State before being taken in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He finished his impressive NFL career with 5,356 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns in addition to 148 receptions for another 1,207 yards and a pair of scores.