TAOS — Taos County Sheriff Steve Miera says a man who died shortly after being handcuffed by a deputy Saturday night outside the Midtown Market and Lounge in Arroyo Hondo had suffered a medical episode.

But the incident has led to speculation by witnesses that 64-year-old Patrick Walsh died as a result of his encounter with Deputy Donivan Byers.

Miera said in a statement one of Walsh’s friends had helped Byers restrain Walsh so he could be handcuffed. At that point, he said, Walsh experienced “an elevated medical episode.”

“The Deputy had a brief interaction with Walsh,” Miera said in the statement. “While trying to assist and assess him, Walsh became resistant and combative, having bit the Deputy while he was trying to restrain him. With the help of Walsh’s friend, the Deputy was able

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