ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Authorities have concluded that a 22-year-old central Florida jail inmate died because of infections resulting from police dog bites received during an August arrest.
An autopsy report released Wednesday says Max Gracia, an armed robbery suspect, was bitten by a city of Orlando police dog while resisting arrest on Aug. 6. He received multiple bite injuries to the left thigh and leg.
The report says the bites caused infection, leading to septic shock, which can cause multiple organ failure. A potentially deadly bacteria (Escherichia coli) was found in Gracia's lungs and wounds.
Gracia was found unresponsive in his jail cell on Aug. 10 after complaining the night before of weakness and dizziness.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office is the leading the investigation into the man's death.
