Man in police custody dies

SAN FRANCISCO - A naked, apparently suicidal man who San Francisco police took a from a fire escape Sunday, died while in their custody.

Police did not identify the man, but said he was threatening to jump to his death from the fire escape on the fifth floor of a hotel.

San Francisco homicide Inspector Maureen D'Amico said the man was on speed and foaming at the mouth.

She said police struggled with the man, noticed ''signs of distress'' and called the paramedics. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Wayne Jenkins, a security officer at the hotel said the man was yelling ''Oh my God! Help me!'' and would not come inside when asked.

Jenkins said police repeatedly asked the man to come in, but he did not. He said the police finally pulled the man inside by his hand, put him face down on the ground and handcuffed him. Jenkins said police turned the man back over, noticed he had stopped breathing and tried to revive him.