Porn actor's cause of death could be made Tuesday, official says

An autopsy to determine the official cause of death for the porn star known as Sledge Hammer could occur as early as Tuesday, an L.A County Coroner’s spokesman said.

The LAPD's Force Investigation Division is investigating the death of Marland Anderson -- known professionally as Sledge Hammer -- who died, officials said,  after he became violent with paramedics and was restrained by Los Angeles police officers.

The incident occurred April 8 in Reseda, and he died Friday at a hospital.

Authorities say they responded to a call of an attempted suicide at a home in Reseda. When paramedics and officers arrived they found Anderson,with his girlfriend. Anderson had suffered a knife injury, Lt. Andrew Neiman said.

The girlfriend told officers Anderson tried to hurt himself with the knife and she pried it away from him, Neiman said.

He was then handcuffed to a gurney by police for transportation in an ambulance. Once inside the ambulance, Neiman said, Anderson tried to stand up but moved with such force that he broke the gurney free from a floor lock and broke the handcuff.

To restrain Anderson, an officer then used a Taser but it failed to stop the agitated actor, Neiman said. Several officers eventually managed to restrain Anderson, Neiman said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died Friday morning, Neiman said.

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-- Richard Winton and Matt Stevens

Photo: Adult performer Marland Anderson, also known as Sledge Hammer. Credit: KTLA-TV