Oakland Police Department logo, serving Oakland, California. (Kiley Russell/Bay City News)

The family of a former professional football player who died in Oakland police custody Saturday said he was struggling with mental health issues prior to his death. 

Doug Martin, 36, died in a hospital after he was confronted by police during a reported burglary at about 4:15 a.m. Saturday in the 11000 block of Ettrick Street.

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Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.