Witnesses said the suspected drug dealer, Miji Aboud Mohammed, was stopped by police officers patrolling the area and upon being searched was found in possession of a controlled substance believed to be heroin stashed in a piece of paper.
And before the officers could retrieve the paper, Mohammed, 40, allegedly swallowed it.
This prompted the officers to start choking the suspect in an attempt to have him spit out the drugs.
In the drama the police officers reportedly strangled Mohammed, police and witnesses said.
Irked area residents who had witnessed the incident, descended on one of the officers with kicks and blows killing him.
Police officers present were forced to fire in the air to disperse the crowd which had gathered outside King Fahad Kisiwani Hospital and was baying for the blood of other officers involved in the incident.
They had been injured in the confrontation.
A patient who had been admitted at the hospital reportedly died from shock as a result of the gunshots, police said.
Police who visited the scene said they are investigating the incident.
Cases of drug trafficking and consumption are on the rise in the area.
