Man dies in Chemult after bizarre behavior

Oregon State Police detectives are investigating a man’s death after a period of unusual behavior Tuesday morning in the northern Klamath County town of Chemult.

The names of those involved have not been released, as the man’s next of kin have not been notified, troopers said Tuesday night.

Around 9:45 a.m., Chemult EMS medics were dispatched to a report of a man who fell near a Chevron gas station along Highway 97 in Chemult, troopers said.

Before medics arrived, troopers said the 52-year old white male was reportedly acting erratically, crossing the highway more than once, and went behind the gas station, where he rolled around in the dirt.

Witnesses tried calming the man, talking to him and giving him water while awaiting emergency responders.

As the ambulance was arriving, the man jumped in front of it before approaching a nearby apartment believed to be occupied by a pregnant female, they said.

The woman’s father and several bystanders approached the man. Believing the woman was in the apartment, and out of concern for her safety, they physically restrained the man on the ground as EMS personnel monitored the situation before asking OSP troopers to respond.

While on the ground, the man lost consciousness and stopped breathing. EMS personnel started CPR and requested air ambulance response.

But before the helicopter arrived, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives will review the ongoing investigation with the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office, troopers said, adding that an autopsy decision is pending.