Details emerge in death of man held by Beijing police

Beijing police on Wednesday denied using excessive force on a man who died in police custody after he was detained on suspicion of soliciting prostitution.

Lei Yang, 29, was stopped by police officers in plain clothes at a foot massage salon in Beijing's Changping district at 9:14 pm on Saturday night, a police statement said.

Officers were monitoring the salon after receiving tips that it was involved in prostitution, the statement said. Lei refused to cooperate, tried to escape, bit officers and knocked down the mobile phone that was being used to record the incident.