The family of Doug Martin, the standout running back who starred at Boise State University before a seven-year NFL career, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Oakland, California, over Martin’s death in police custody last fall. The suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, names Oakland police officers, paramedics, and the city of Oakland as defendants.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
According to the lawsuit, Martin died from restraint asphyxia caused by Oakland police officers and from paramedics’ failure to provide timely medical care. The plaintiffs are Martin’s parents, Leslie and Douglas Martin.
Police were called to a home in East Oakland at approximately 4 a.m. on October 18, 2025, responding to a reported break-in. Martin had been experiencing a mental health crisis at the family home when his mother, Leslie Martin, called paramedics. Before help arrived, Martin fled and hid in the basement of a neighbor’s house two doors away.
When officers located him, a brief struggle ensued. During the restraint, Martin was pinned face down with at least one officer pressing on his back. Officers eventually rolled him onto his side after noticing he was unresponsive — but according to the lawsuit, more than 15 minutes passed before they called for medical assistance. During that window, officers reportedly believed Martin was sleeping or pretending to be unconscious.
Bodycam footage released in March showed officers restraining Martin inside a home gym. He can be heard appearing to snore in the footage before the situation deteriorated. When paramedics arrived, they were unable to fit a gurney into the house. Officers carried Martin upstairs and outside, at which point paramedics discovered he had stopped breathing. They removed his handcuffs and began CPR.
The Oakland Police Department issued a statement on October 20, two days after the incident. Martin’s family and his sports agency noted publicly that he had privately been battling mental health issues that “profoundly affected his personal and professional life.”
A Boise State Legend
Martin arrived at Boise State in 2007 and became one of the program’s most celebrated players. During the 2010 and 2011 seasons, he posted back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns. His teams went 38-2 over his final three seasons, and he scored 47 touchdowns during that same stretch — numbers that made him a consensus star in the Mountain West and a top NFL draft prospect.
His professional career lasted seven years, including two Pro Bowl appearances. In 2015, playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he earned first-team All-Pro honors — one of the highest individual recognitions in the NFL. He finished his playing career with the Oakland Raiders in 2018, the same franchise whose city would become the scene of his death years later.
Impact on Ada County Residents and the Boise State Community
For Treasure Valley residents and Boise State fans, Martin’s death carries particular weight. He remains a beloved figure in the program’s history, representing the type of nationally recognized talent the Broncos produced during their rise to prominence in college football. His death has prompted renewed discussion in Idaho and beyond about how law enforcement and emergency responders handle individuals in mental health crises.
The case also arrives at a moment when questions about police transparency and accountability are drawing scrutiny in the region. Ada County’s own sheriff’s office recently drew attention after hiring a private firm to edit police shooting videos, raising public records questions closer to home.
What Comes Next
The wrongful death lawsuit will proceed through federal court in the Northern District of California. No trial date has been set. Oakland city officials have not publicly responded to the filing as of publication.
For Idaho families navigating mental health crises involving law enforcement, resources through local crisis intervention lines and Ada County behavioral health programs remain available. Readers interested in how Idaho agencies handle similar situations may also follow ongoing transparency debates, including coverage of Ada County law enforcement policies, as related discussions unfold statewide.