12:22 PM EDT, Mon April 11, 2022. Crime and Public Safety | He also had multiple rib fractures and a liver laceration, consistent with injuries people sometimes suffer when doctors attempt to resuscitate them through CPR. The case has sparked outrage in the community. Colorado cop shot and killed unarmed man at point-blank range after struggle outside middle school, video shows It's unclear why it took until Friday to release the report, which was obtained through a public records request from the coroner's office. No weight no weight.. Crime and Public Safety | The family also wants the California Department of Justice to investigate the police departments handling of the case. 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. AP City officials stated they are "committed to full transparency and accountability in the aftermath of Mr. Gonzalez's death." Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Published Related Articles During last year's COVID shutdown, Gonzalez lost his job cooking inanItalian restaurant that went out of business during the shutdown. An Alameda police press release on the death of Mario Gonzalez. Two wrongful death suits, nearly mirroring one another, have been filed against the City of Alameda alleging the officers detained Gonzalez without reasonable suspicion and caused him to die of asphyxia. "Mario was a noble and decent man who didn't deserve to have his life ended in this way.". The second caller said Gonzalez was lingering in Scout Park at the corner of Oak and Powell streets, with what the caller suspected were stolen bottles of alcohol. In Alameda County, the sheriff also oversees the coroner's office. Its been a long year, just the way weve been treated by the legal process., My brother was a human, he added. The city identified them Wednesday as Officer James Fisher, who has been with the Alameda Police Department since 2010, and Cameron Leahy and Eric McKinley who joined in 2018. That autopsy was commissioned by civil rights law firm Haddad and Sherwin on behalf of Gonzalezs son Mario Gonzalez-Cortez and family members in a civil suit against the city, the officers and the police departments former chief. Lisa Fernandez and Evan Sernoffsky are reporters forKTVU. Gonzalez family: Police body-worn camera footage shows what we alreadyknew s attorneys, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, countered the report from the Alameda County coroners office, last year, which had called the death a homicide but listed the principal cause as toxic effects of methamphetamine., The report included under other significant conditions the physiological stress of altercation and restraint, as well as obesity and alcoholism., On April 19, 2021, police in the Bay Area city, knelt on Marios back for nearly four minutes, until he died. Police body camera video released a week after his death shows multiple officers holding Gonzalez to the ground for five minutes while attempting to arrest him on suspicion of shoplifting, a misdemeanor. In statements Wednesday, a Gonzalez lawyer and family member further decried police actions that led to his death. After graduating from Coliseum College Preparatory in Oakland, Gonzalez had plannedto go toAlameda College. The APD took a calm situation and made it fatal.". 16-year-old student killed in violent altercation at Santa Rosa's Californias storms arent letting up. The police killed my brother, in the same manner they killed George Floyd, his brother Gerardo Gonzalez told reporters Tuesday. WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO:Alameda officers kneel on man before his death, Several experts have said that officers have long been trained not to handcuff people facedown on the ground as it can lead to "restraint asphyxia.". 2023 FOX Television Stations, until THU 9:00 AM PST, Mendocino County Coast, until THU 8:00 AM PST, Carquinez Strait and Delta, from THU 12:00 AM PST until THU 9:00 AM PST, North Bay interior valleys, East Bay Interior Valleys, Santa Clara Valley including San Jose, Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, from SAT 4:00 AM PST until SUN 4:00 PM PST, Southern Lake County, Northwestern Mendocino Interior, Northeastern Mendocino Interior, Southeastern Mendocino Interior, Northern Lake County, High Stakes: Sports Betting in California, originallytold the public that hehad died, Several experts have said that officers have long been trained, Teacher's TikTok plea helps clear thousands of dollars in school lunch debt, Study finds General Motors and Tesla have the most loyal customers, Instacart delivers after twin daughters almost make an $800 purchase, Bald eagles make home in unusual spot at Alameda golf course, Fishermen find remains of missing man inside shark. S.F. That was their fatal mistake, experts said. The case has drawn national attention, with comparisons to the death of George Floyd, particularly for the scant information police initially released in saying Gonzalez died of a medical issue during a scuffle with officers. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? The city of Alameda has repeatedly delayed releasing records under a police transparency law citing the fact that the autopsy had not yet been complete. Gonzalezs death resulted from the toxic effects of methamphetamine, combined with the physiological stress of restraint by officers and other underlying conditions, according to the Alameda County coroner. Gonzalez, 26, died after Alameda Police Department officers pinned him to the ground face-down and restrained him for several minutes on April 19, 2021. One officer puts his knee on Gonzalezs back for four minutes or more. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. Sherwin said she also had sent requests for a federal investigation, not only to US Attorney General Merrick Garland and his chief deputy, Pamela Karlan, but also to the US attorney and the FBI in the Bay Area. Autopsy finds Mario Gonzalez died from meth, police restraint in Alameda struggle By Lisa Fernandez and Evan Sernoffsky Published December 10, 2021 Updated "Here it's pretty obvious this individual is suffering from compression restraint asphyxia," Obayashi said. And like so many others, he hadn't been able to find work since then. Family members said Gonzalez had no known health conditions and have previously contended that he did not die from medical complications. He was anxious and was prescribed medications to help. But it won't last long. In this case, one officer recognized the danger, asking shortly before Gonzalez stopped breathing if they should roll him on his side. He stopped breathing in a park at the end of a cul-de-sac of well-kept homes with manicured gardens. The three officers remain on paid administrative leave, according to the city of Alameda. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Richard Winton is an investigative crime writer for the Los Angeles Times and part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2011. Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. Mario Gonzalezs death ruled a homicide,, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Alameda County DAs new policy will reduce prison sentences through widespread elimination of sentencing enhancements, Mario Gonzalezs death ruled a homicide, coroner blames Alameda police who restrained him, meth use, Tehama County Sheriffs Office resuming daytime patrols Sunday, L.A. wants to evict families living in luxury hotel since botched 2021 fireworks detonation, Former Pleasanton cop found not guilty of murder in DUI crash, Colorado cop shot and killed unarmed man at point-blank range after struggle outside middle school, video shows, Feds drop felony gun case days after defense argued SFPD illegally arrested, searched defendant. It was not clear Friday if that had taken place. It is shameful that District Attorney Nancy OMalley did not have the courage to bring criminal charges for this homicide. But body camera video released shortly afterward, it was clear that Gonzalez was unarmed. Examiners also detected ethanol in Gonzalezs system and found signs of alcoholism and obesity, including an enlarged and dilated heart and an enlarged liver with severe fatty change. Sherwin is preparing a federal civil rights lawsuit. There were also reports that someone stole liquor bottles from a nearby store. Alameda police approached Gonzalez in a small park in the 800 block of Oak Street near Park Street and Otis Drive after residents called 911, describing a man talking strangely and smashing a bottle on a tree stump. All three remain on paid leave. That's a huge boost for the Dubs, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. OAKLAND, Calif. - A 26-year-old man who died while being handcuffed by Alameda police eight months ago succumbed to "toxic effects of methamphetamine" with "physiologic stress of altercation and restraint" a contributing factor, the Alameda County Coroner's Office determined in an autopsy report released Friday. An altercation occurred, an officer was seen pinning a man for at least four minutes, and soon Mario Gonzalez was dead. Gonzalez, 26, of Oakland, died on April 19 at a hospital after being pinned down as Alameda police tried to arrest him. of Gonzalezs death, his younger brother, Jerry, spoke to a crowd of dozens of mourners in the park where he was killed. Once the officers had lawfully attempted to detain Mr. Gonzalez, he physically resisted their efforts the entire time until he ultimately became unresponsive, the district attorneys report says. Click here and here to download a copy of the coroner's report. The independent autopsy confirms what we all saw with our own eyes. Then the cops put Marios hands behind his back and pinned him facedown. Born in Berkeley, she graduated from Cal with a degree in rhetoric and is now raising two daughters in El Cerrito. A previous Alameda County Sheriffs Office coroners autopsy differed on the cause of death, saying Gonzalez died of a heart attack caused by the stress of the encounter. Off work, he enjoys playing in bands, busking and karaoke. "They never wanted to take him to the ground,"Wilkinson said at the time. Body camera video shows officers attempt to take Mario Gonzalez into custody on April 19, 2021. Known as @lacrimes on Twitter, during almost 30 years at The Times he also has been part of the breaking news staff that won Pulitzers in 1998, 2004 and 2016. 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. 2023 Cable News Network. Part of HuffPost Politics. The report notes that, according to the autopsy, Gonzalez had no lethal injuries., Alison Berry Wilkinson, an attorney who represents the three officers, told CNN they are grateful the district attorney recognized that this tragic death was an unintended consequence of their legitimate and lawful actions.. / CBS/AP. At least two officers knelt on him until he stopped breathing and lost his pulse. An independent autopsy confirmed what the Latino fathers family had declared: Police in Alameda, California, killed him, not meth. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The state DOJ told HuffPost that it is their understanding that the case is being handled at the local level.. The Associated Press contributed to this report. He fought the officers, and they used reasonable techniques. Did you encounter any technical issues? Civil Rights attorney Julia Sherwin, who is representing the family, says her office will continue to press their case in court that it was the officers' prone weight restraint, not meth, that killed Gonzalez. Anxious and was prescribed medications to help agreeing to our Terms of Service and Policy. On Gonzalezs back for four minutes, and they used reasonable techniques El.. Officer was seen pinning a man for at least two officers knelt him. 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mario gonzalez alameda autopsy