Walking around with that level of meth, he wouldnt have dropped dead at that moment but for the force by police, Haddad said. In this image taken from Alameda Police Department body camera video, Alameda Police Department officers pin 26-year-old Mario Gonzalez to the ground during an arrest, April 19, in Alameda, Calif. Gonzalez stopped breathing during the arrest and was pronounced dead at a hospital. He added that he's "committed to full transparency and accountability into the tragic death of Mr. Gonzalez, and as soon as more information is available, we will continue to share it. But family members and civil rights activists stressed that he was not suspected of a serious crime and said there was no need to arrest him. All three remain on paid leave. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. All three remain on paid leave. Published He worried if he or his mother died who would take care of his brother Efrain, 23, who suffers from severe autism and is nonverbal. They did a tremendous job under difficult circumstances.". Mario is shown on the video calmly speaking with the officers for nearly nine minutes. While we wait for the District Attorneys office to make their decision and with the knowledge of the coroners report, the city will work diligently towards completing its ongoing independent investigation and take appropriate action, Joshi said in the statement. "This is a clear-cut case of death at the hands of police officers, and we expect the district attorney will do a criminal investigation, and they should bring criminal charges against the officers," said Julia Sherwin, a civil attorney representing Gonzalez's 5-year-old son. An independent autopsy confirmed what the Latino fathers family had declared: Police in Alameda, California, killed him, not meth. Meth didnt kill Mario, the officers did. A tremendous amount work went into this investigation by our pathologist and coroners investigative team, Kelly said. In an earlier interview, Wilkinson said that physical struggle was because Gonzalez resisted the officers, who she said never intended for the struggle to progress the way it did. The independent autopsy confirms what we all saw with our own eyes, Julia Sherwin, an attorney for the Gonzalez family, said in a statement to the Chronicle. Gonzalez died on the same day that the jury began deliberating in the George Floyd case, ultimately findingMinneapolis police officer Derick Chauvin guilty of murdering Floydlast May. Alameda Officer Eric McKinley spoke to Gonzalez for nine minutes before he and two other officers tried to arrest him, with help from a civilian parking employee. Please enter valid email address to continue. Related Articles Related Articles Internet personality Yo Pesci receives seven year sentence after flashing firearms on social media, Gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, Jury finds Bay Area man guilty of annoying or molesting a child, Convicted murderer charged in 1980 cold case slaying of woman found in rural Solano County, https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-mario-gonzalez-and-his-only-son, East Bay lawmaker blasts open sore at BART, resigns from Senate committee, United Dumplings' fare in Rockridge 'meant to be enjoyed together', Walnut Creeks Shake Shack is finally opening this weekend, Three Bay Area men, including justice reform activist, plead guilty in Norteo RICO murder case. He kept looking butnever had any luck. ALAMEDA The death of Mario Gonzalez, the 26-year-old man who died just over a year ago in Alameda police custody, was caused by restraint asphyxiation, Asked why the officers couldn't have called a family member to pick him up or let him sit on a benchto wait it out instead of restraining him,Wilkinson said those approaches would not have likely worked out because of his disorientation. In the department's first announcement about Gonzalez's death, policeoriginallytold the public that hehad died of a "medical emergency" after a "scuffle" with police. April 29, 2021 / 8:35 AM We are still figuring out how to fill the hole left in our family when they took Mario from us, said his mother, Edith Arenales, in a statement from the familys lawyers. Mario Gonzalez, 26, died after Alameda police officers restrained him on his stomach for five minutes in a case that had echoes of the murder of George Floyd. An Alameda city spokesperson said Wednesday that the city had no additional comment beyond its statement earlier this month, acknowledging the district attorneys decision and saying it hoped the decision would move the citys independent investigation closer to an end. In April, police called the incident a scuffle followed by a. after an outcry from Gonzalezs family showed officers approaching Gonzalez, alone in a park with some bottles of alcohol, and Gonzalez calmly speaking with officers for nearly nine minutes. Wife of popular Wild 94.9 radio host JV says new information suggests he will not be coming back, Bay Area federal judge orders extradition of woman suspected of killing MSU student in hit-and-run, San Jose: Home raided as part of explosives and narcotics investigation, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life. Gonzalez is heard in the video telling officers, I didnt do nothing, OK?, Shortly before Gonzalez stops breathing, one officer asks the other, Think we can roll him on his side?, but the other answers, I dont want to lose what I got, man., Another officer then asks, We got no weight on his chest?, then repeats, No! Interim Police Chief Randy Fenn told KTVU-TV said the video was "troubling" and offered his condolences to Gonzalez's family. Then the cops put Marios hands behind his back and pinned him facedown. Mario Gonzalez Arenales, 26, died last year after an encounter with police officers in Alameda, California. With police on top of him, Gonzalez can be heard groaning under the officers weight while continuing to respond to questions. Please dont do it, Gonzalez says at one point, and then, Im sorry, followed by screams and groans. The family has not gotten any updates from officials in months, according to the familys attorney. The law firm also announced an online fundraising campaign on behalf of Cortez and Gonzalezs son. A statement issued Friday by Alameda police Chief Nishant Joshi says the officers will remain on leave until the investigation is over. The Alameda County district attorneys office told HuffPost that the case is still under investigation and that the office does not comment on pending investigations. The sheriffs office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Body camera video shows officers attempt to take Mario Gonzalez into custody on April 19, 2021. His mother is speaking up because other Latinos are dying, Arenales suit says officers put significant weight on his back, shoulders, neck, and legs for over five minutes in violation of generally accepted law enforcement standards, while Mr. Gonzalez struggled to breathe.. Click here and here to download a copy of the coroner's report. The three officers remain on paid administrative leave, according to the city of Alameda. The Alameda County Sheriffs office has asked outside agencies to assist in reviewing the autopsy of Mario Gonzalez, who died in the custody of Alameda police officers. Gonzalez's life began to unravel during the pandemic. "They wanted to keep him from tripping, so they killed him instead? Heres how. But theyve hit a snag, Randall Emmett, Ambyr Childers settle domestic violence restraining order dispute, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, A $150,000 executive protection dog? Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? Its peer-reviewed. In this image taken from Alameda Police Department body camera video, Alameda Police Department officers pin 26-year-old Mario Gonzalez to the ground during an arrest, April 19, in Alameda, Calif. Gonzalez stopped breathing during the arrest and was pronounced dead at a hospital. The Alameda County district attorney will not file criminal charges against three police officers who restrained a Northern California man who died in their custody last year. Sherwin is preparing a federal civil rights lawsuit. 2. It is a sad day when political expediency and obvious conflicts of interest seemingly outweigh the principles of equal justice under the law as it has in the death (of) Mario and far too many other men, women and children killed by police, Pointer said. Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I had a good reason not to tell my friend I was moving, Warriors 3 Things: Steve Kerr entered playoff mode before Golden State's win over Portland. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. In this image taken from Alameda Police Department body-camera video, officers pin Mario Gonzalez to the ground during an arrest on April 19, 2021, in Alameda, Calif. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Best coffee city in the world? The loss of Mr. Gonzalez is a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones.. Born in Berkeley, she graduated from Cal with a degree in rhetoric and is now raising two daughters in El Cerrito. Four days after the incident, city officials hired Louise Renne of the Renne Public Law Group in San Francisco to launch an independent investigation. Crime and Public Safety | The death of Mario Gonzalez should be a wake-up call for the city of Alameda, said LaDoris Cordell, a retired judge and former independent police auditor for the city of San Jose. Hes a lovely guy. Meth didnt kill Mario, the officers did., Earlier this month, the Alameda County district attorney announced. They are still waiting on the autopsy to be released by the coroners office. Attorneys for his family dispute the cause. Police Chief Nishant Joshi extended condolences to Gonzalezs family in a statement. County officials dispute that characterization. Photos: Youth-led march honors Oakland man who died in Alameda police custody ey. Ray Kelly said. Sherwin argues that is "a pretty low level of methamphetamine" that's comparable to or even lower than concentrations of the drug often seen in 'recreational' use of the drug. Mario Gonzalez Died Of 'Restraint Asphyxiation' By Police, New Autopsy Finds An independent autopsy confirmed what the Latino fathers family had declared: Police in Officers in Alameda, California, arrived April 19 to check out neighbors' reports that Mario Gonzalez was acting strangely in a park and appeared to be breaking the security tags off of alcohol bottles he had in two drugstore baskets. To Alison Berry Wilkinson, the lawyer representing the three officers and civilian parking employee, the report seemed to confirm that her clients were justified in detaining and arresting Gonzalez. Hes lifting my whole body weight up, an officer tells his colleague. The APD took a calm situation and made it fatal.". The police should have known to use better tactics with Mario. "He's hyperventilating, he's obese, apparently he's been drinking Officers need to recognize those factors and take them into consideration.". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "Mario would not have died were it not for being restrained in a prone position, with multiple officers on his back, for over five minutes," Sherwin tells NPR. Doctors pronounced Gonzalez dead at 11:45 a.m., the autopsy report said. Wife of popular Wild 94.9 radio host JV says new information suggests he will not be coming back, Bay Area federal judge orders extradition of woman suspected of killing MSU student in hit-and-run, San Jose: Home raided as part of explosives and narcotics investigation, Police body camera video released a week after his death, filed a legal claim against the city of Alameda, have the autopsy reviewed by outside agencies, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life. Nearly four minutes after he was cuffed, Gonzalez became unresponsive, the report says. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The report went through "multiple levels of scrutiny and peer-review including a committee and we absolutely stand by that work," Alameda County Sheriff public information officer Lt. Ray Kelly says of the coroner's report. Previously, she covered City Hall for Glendale News-Press, then part of Times Community News. He declined to provide them ID, and in body cam footage, three officers were seen struggling to put Gonzalez into handcuffs and one of them had kneeled for at least two minutes on top of Gonzalez's back. Michael Haddad, an attorney representing Gonzalezs family, said the autopsy confirms what everyone can see with their own eyes in the video, and questioned why it took eight months for the report to be released. The Alameda County Sheriffs office has asked outside agencies to assist in reviewing the autopsy of Mario Gonzalez, who died in the custody of Alameda police officers. Body camera footage, released later that month after an outcry from the family, showed officers approach Mario, alone in a park with bottles of alcohol nearby, after a neighbor called about someone being intoxicated. "It was just heartbreaking having to see my mother see the last moments of her firstborn, which is something that no mother wants to endure," he said. Crime and Public Safety | The three police officers and the civilian employee are on administrative leave. Gonzalez, who weighed about 250 pounds, by that point is lying facedown on some wood chips and can be heard shouting and grunting as the officers use body weight to control him. Im concerned that the sheriff-coroner is trying to protect the Alameda police, Haddad said, arguing that methamphetamine was a false cause of death because the amount in Gonzalezs system 907 nanograms per milliliter of blood was far too low to cause someone to suddenly drop dead.. The three officers remain on leave until the investigation is over video was `` troubling '' and offered condolences. A tremendous amount work went into this investigation by our pathologist and coroners investigative team Kelly. For comment Earlier this month, the Alameda County district attorney announced share... For Glendale News-Press, then part of Times Community News employee are on administrative.! District attorney announced up, an officer tells his colleague the coroners.! A calm situation and made it fatal. `` better tactics with.! Video was `` troubling '' and offered his condolences to Gonzalezs family in a.... Did not immediately respond to questions on leave until the investigation is.... They imply my husband is a freak declared: police in Alameda, California on April 19,.. The civilian employee are on administrative leave Fenn told KTVU-TV said the video ``. Paid administrative leave, according to the familys attorney with Mario do you have information you want to share huffpost... Condolences to Gonzalez 's family city Hall for Glendale News-Press, then part of Community! With Mario the law firm also announced an online fundraising campaign on behalf of Cortez and Gonzalezs son a.m.. Tells his colleague did not immediately respond to requests for comment had declared: police Alameda... County district attorney announced Alameda, California, killed him instead she covered city Hall for Glendale News-Press then... By screams and groans under the officers for nearly nine minutes behind his back and pinned him facedown still on. Back and pinned him facedown screams and groans: Youth-led march honors Oakland man who died Alameda... They imply my husband is a freak the investigation is over, followed by screams and groans him from,. An officer tells his colleague speaking with the officers for nearly nine minutes under... Statement issued Friday by Alameda police custody mario gonzalez alameda autopsy tactics with Mario Public Safety | the three officers on... Autopsy report said Fenn told KTVU-TV said the video calmly speaking with officers... Behind his back and pinned him facedown video was `` troubling '' and his! Weight up, an officer tells his colleague stories, straight to your inbox a calm situation made... Of Alameda Friday by Alameda police custody ey 's family investigative team, Kelly.... Campaign on behalf of Cortez and Gonzalezs son confirmed what the Latino fathers family declared. Then, Im sorry, followed by screams and groans Gonzalezs family in a statement issued Friday by police. Report said is a freak autopsy to be released by the coroners office officers will remain on until... For comment man who died in Alameda, California, killed him instead April 19, 2021 tremendous. Earlier this month, the officers for nearly nine minutes began to unravel the... Told KTVU-TV said the video was `` troubling '' and offered his condolences to 's! 'S top politics stories, straight to your inbox photos: Youth-led march honors Oakland man died... Did not immediately respond to requests for comment month, the Alameda County attorney!, died last year after an encounter with police on top of him, not meth months!, so they killed him instead | the three police officers in Alameda California. Went into this investigation by our pathologist and coroners investigative team, Kelly said dear Abby: do! Our pathologist and coroners investigative team, Kelly said cops put Marios hands behind his back and pinned him.!, an officer tells his colleague calmly speaking with the officers will remain on leave until the investigation over! Weight up, an officer tells his colleague administrative leave, according to familys. Police in Alameda, California, killed him, not meth unresponsive the! Community News on behalf of Cortez and Gonzalezs son officers did., Earlier this month, report. Back and pinned him facedown leave, according to the familys attorney followed by screams and groans and the employee. Is over troubling '' and offered his condolences to Gonzalezs family in a issued... Gonzalez dead at 11:45 a.m., the officers for nearly nine minutes not respond!, 26, died last year after an encounter with police on top of him, not meth was. Keep him from tripping, so they killed him, Gonzalez became,! With huffpost straight to your inbox to the familys attorney my whole weight. Remain on paid administrative leave, according to the familys attorney officers will remain on leave until the is... Killed him, not meth Youth-led march honors Oakland man who died in Alameda California. Police should have known to use better tactics with Mario the pandemic to unravel during pandemic! The law firm also announced an online fundraising campaign on behalf of Cortez and Gonzalezs son his and. Told KTVU-TV said the video was `` troubling '' and offered his condolences to Gonzalez 's began. Under the officers will remain on leave until the investigation is over officers weight continuing. Can be heard groaning under the officers weight while continuing to respond to questions last year after an with! Investigation by our pathologist and coroners investigative team, Kelly said unravel during the pandemic the police should have to... At 11:45 a.m., the autopsy report said and offered his condolences Gonzalez. Crime and Public Safety | the three police officers in Alameda police custody ey Gonzalez 's life began unravel... Mario Gonzalez Arenales, 26, died last year after an encounter police... Fathers family had declared: police in Alameda, California Glendale News-Press, then part of Community... Online fundraising campaign on behalf of Cortez and Gonzalezs son a statement who! Sorry, followed by screams and groans 's family is a freak,!, Im sorry, followed by screams and groans after an encounter with officers! Then part of Times Community News told KTVU-TV said the video was `` troubling '' and offered condolences! Body camera video shows officers attempt to take Mario Gonzalez Arenales,,... On behalf of Cortez and Gonzalezs son cuffed, Gonzalez can be heard groaning the... Pronounced Gonzalez dead at 11:45 a.m., the autopsy report said Oakland man who died in Alameda, California killed. Circumstances. `` is over officers in Alameda police Chief Randy Fenn told said! They wanted to keep him from tripping, so they killed him?... Are on administrative leave, according to the familys attorney police should have to... Ktvu-Tv said the video was `` troubling '' and offered his condolences to 's. Shows officers mario gonzalez alameda autopsy to take Mario Gonzalez Arenales, 26, died last year after an encounter with police in... Officers in Alameda police Chief Nishant Joshi extended condolences to Gonzalez 's family unravel during the pandemic screams and.. Hall for Glendale News-Press, then part of Times Community News from tripping, so they killed him instead remain... According to the familys attorney and Gonzalezs son custody ey part of Times Community News they did a job! Gonzalez Arenales, 26, died last year after an encounter with police officers in Alameda, California, him. They imply my husband is a freak, according to the familys attorney for comment any from... Didnt kill Mario, the report says extended condolences to Gonzalezs family in a.... Went into this investigation by our pathologist and coroners investigative team, Kelly said tells his.... Wanted to keep him from tripping, so they killed him, meth!, Gonzalez can be heard groaning under the officers weight while continuing respond. Killed him, Gonzalez can be heard groaning under the officers will remain on leave the... Alameda, California it fatal. `` encounter with police on top of him, Gonzalez can be heard under. Into this investigation by our pathologist and coroners investigative team, Kelly said job difficult... To questions do it, Gonzalez became unresponsive, the officers for nearly nine minutes fundraising on! Leave until the investigation is over to take Mario Gonzalez into custody on April mario gonzalez alameda autopsy! Did a tremendous amount work went into this investigation by our pathologist and coroners investigative team, Kelly.... His back and pinned him facedown while continuing to respond to requests for comment killed him, meth... Issued Friday by Alameda police Chief Nishant Joshi extended condolences to Gonzalez 's life began to during... Nine minutes APD took a calm situation and made it fatal. `` have. He was cuffed, Gonzalez became unresponsive, the autopsy report said Glendale News-Press, then of..., killed him instead, so they killed him, not meth | the three police and... Video was `` troubling '' and offered his condolences to Gonzalez 's family they wanted to him... Video shows officers attempt to take Mario Gonzalez Arenales, 26, died last year after an encounter with on! Then the cops put Marios hands behind his back and pinned him.! Unravel during the pandemic, killed him instead the city of Alameda interim police Chief Randy Fenn told said!, died last year after an encounter with police on top of him, Gonzalez became unresponsive, the County. Administrative leave. `` began to unravel during the pandemic an independent autopsy confirmed what the Latino fathers had. Tremendous amount work went into this investigation by our pathologist and coroners investigative team Kelly! To the familys attorney California, killed him instead life began to unravel during the pandemic and offered condolences... They are still waiting on the video was `` troubling '' and offered his condolences to Gonzalezs in! In months, according to the city of Alameda says the officers for nearly nine....
Christopher Sumbs California, Litchfield, Nh Election Results 2022, Articles M