I don't think the officers wanted him to die, but he is dead, rather than sitting in a jail cell or out-on-bail.

It was a tragic incident, no matter what the intentions were.

I'm sure the cops are rolling the scenario back-and-forth in their minds, and wishing they had just promptly put him in the car after cuffing him.

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
--- Will Rogers