The other refuses, saying he doesn't want to lose his grip. Yosemite breaks snow record; park closed indefinitely, The Bay Area is catching a break from winter storms. An officer says, I forgive you.. Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do, Pac-12 media rights: Our (final) predictions for the revenue, media partners, expansion decisions and more. A Warner Bros. Mario Gonzalez autopsy will be reviewed by, 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 Gonzalez autopsy will be reviewed by outside agencies, After Oakland man dies in custody, Alameda looks at possible changes in policing, Photos: Youth-led march honors Oakland man who died in Alameda police custody, Gonzalez family: Police body-worn camera footage shows what we alreadyknew, Our family needs answers: Relatives call for swift transparency in mans death during arrest by Alameda police. The autopsy also noted that Gonzalez had more than 20 cuts and bruises. 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. Michael Haddad, an attorney representing Gonzalez and his young son, who is also named Mario, said he didnt need an autopsy to deduce that Gonzalezs death was a homicide, or that the police restraint was a factor. "He's hyperventilating, he's obese, apparently he's been drinking Officers need to recognize those factors and take them into consideration.". Body camera video shows officers attempt to take Mario Gonzalez into custody on April 19, 2021. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. James Fisher, Cameron Leahy and Eric McKinley be fired and charged. Gonzalez seemed intoxicated and disoriented and they were concerned he would fall, she said. Gonzalez was still resisting with his entire body, including his legs, even after being handcuffed, according to the report. The officers, as they seek to restrain him, repeatedly ask Gonzalez for his full name and birth date. 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. The decision to detain and arrest Gonzalez was supported by reasonable suspicion and probable cause, but it was also supported by officer safety reasons, District Attorney Nancy OMalleys report says. California man who died in custody was restrained on his stomach for 5 minutes and lost consciousness, police body camera shows. The death of Mario Gonzalez Arenales, a 26-year-old man whose fatal encounter with Alameda police in April became a flash point in a national debate, 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. He wasnt hurting anyone and he was clearly confused. "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 his statement. ey. 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. Gonzalez's life began to unravel during the pandemic. OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alameda County Sheriff-Coroners Office finally released the Coroners and autopsy report concerning Gonzalezs death is under investigation by the Alameda County Sheriffs Office and the county district attorneys office. The nearly hourlong video from two officers body cameras shows police talking to Gonzalez in a park after receiving 911 calls that he appeared to be disoriented or drunk. But body camera video released shortly afterward, it was clear that Gonzalez was unarmed. She joined the Chronicle in 2015 after stints at several alt weekly newspapers. His family said officers unnecessarily escalated what should have been a minor, peaceful encounter with the unarmed man. The next day, Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter for pinning Floyd to the pavement with his knee on the Black man's neck in a case that touched off a national reckoning over racism and police brutality. He was highly intoxicated in a public place, in a manner where he was unable to care for himself, Berry Wilkinson said. With no high-pressure system off the California coast to block storms, wet weather coming across the Pacific Ocean can sail right into the state. Gonzalez had a 4-year-old son, also named Mario, and was the main caretaker of his brother, who has autism and turned 23 on Tuesday, his family said. Off work, he enjoys playing in bands, busking and karaoke. ", The video "presented a story that was really different," his brother, Jerry Gonzalez, told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. State storms arent letting up. Haddad said his firm has hired a doctor to conduct a second autopsy, the results of which have not yet been finalized. On April 19, police in the Bay Area city of Alameda responded to a report of an intoxicated man and a possible theft. It is available at https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-mario-gonzalez-and-his-only-son. Omalu adds that methamphetamine levels in Gonzalezs blood fell within recreational rather than life-threatening ranges and that alcohol levels were extremely low and did not contribute to his death.. In an autopsy report released Friday, chief forensic pathologist Vivian Snyder categorized Gonzalezs death as a homicide, while citing other factors, including The family has not gotten any updates from officials in months, according to the familys attorney. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. There were also reports that someone stole liquor bottles from a nearby store. 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. 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. In Alameda County, the sheriff also oversees the coroner's office. He stopped breathing in a park at the end of a cul-de-sac of well-kept homes with manicured gardens. Gonzalez's mother, who lost another son two years ago, turned 45 the day after Mario died, his brother said. 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. Rich L.A. homeowners are snapping them up, High school basketball: Southern California and Northern California Regional results and updated pairings, Opinion: How California came to treat UC Berkeley students noise as a dire environmental threat, Opinion: California gave up on mandating COVID vaccines for schoolchildren. The loss of Mr. Gonzalez is a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones.. Colorado cop shot and killed unarmed man at point-blank range after struggle outside middle school, video shows They did a tremendous job under difficult circumstances.". Born in Berkeley, she graduated from Cal with a degree in rhetoric and is now raising two daughters in El Cerrito. City officials stated they are "committed to full transparency and accountability in the aftermath of Mr. Gonzalez's death." The autopsy released eight months after the incident found that Mario Gonzalez died due to a heart attack during an April 19 struggle with police. Lisa Fernandez and Evan Sernoffsky are reporters forKTVU. They broke my family for no reason.. And Mario's 5-year-old son, also named Mario, will hold them accountable in civil court in a federal civil rights lawsuit.". The toxicology report by Ascertain Forensics was conducted a month after Gonzalez's death, and his autopsy was signed by Alameda County Chief Forensic Pathologist Vivian S. Snyder on Sept. 25, records show. The two autopsy reports do agree that the manner of Gonzalezs death was homicide, or death at the hands of another person, a legal classification that does not necessarily lead to a murder or manslaughter charge. Alameda County prosecutors cited the coroners autopsy in their report earlier this month when they declined to find the officers criminally liable. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. George Santos Under Scrutiny CBS It was not clear Friday if that had taken place. 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.". At a vigil last week on the first anniversary of Gonzalezs death, his younger brother, Jerry, spoke to a crowd of dozens of mourners in the park where he was killed. Moreover, officers are trained to take particular care with those like Gonzalez who may be especially vulnerable because of their body weight, intoxication or other factors, said Ed Obayashi, a use-of-force consultant to law enforcement agencies and a deputy sheriff and legal adviser for the Plumas County, California, sheriff's office. Soon after a second officer, James Fisher, confirmed with a local drugstore that the alcohol Gonzalez had with him hadnt been stolen from there, both officers attempted to detain Gonzalez before pinning him to the ground and handcuffing his hands behind his back, while a third officer, Cameron Leahy, joined them. Did you encounter any technical issues? Sherwin said she believes Gonzalez died of asphyxiation and said the amount of methamphetamine in his system was low. The incident is under investigation by the Alameda County Sheriff's Department, the Alameda County district attorney's office, and Louise Renne, a former San Francisco city attorney, who was hired to conduct an independent investigation. He fought the officers, and they used reasonable techniques. 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. The Alameda County Sheriffs Office has not completed the autopsy but has already asked pathologists from outside areas to do a peer review of its autopsy once completed. His family said he was also the main caregiver for his autistic brother, Efrain. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? Crime and Public Safety | 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. Heres what first half of March looks like. The case has sparked outrage in the community. On April 19, 2021, police in the Bay Area city knelt on Marios back for nearly four minutes, until he died. Video Shows Police Kneeled On Mario Gonzalez's Back For 5 .. A spokesperson told HuffPost that the city does not have any substantive update on the investigations., These officers should have been fired the moment that the footage was revealed showing them suffocating Mario to death, Gerardo Gonzalez, his brother, said in a statement from the familys attorney. In this case, one officer recognized the danger, asking shortly before Gonzalez stopped breathing if they should roll him on his side. Heres the latest plan, Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area. of Gonzalezs death, his younger brother, Jerry, spoke to a crowd of dozens of mourners in the park where he was killed. She said she plans to file a federal civil lawsuit. Its a video that has drawn comparison to that of the George Floyd killing. At that time, the man had a medical emergency., Another news release said that there was a scuffle as officers attempted to place his hands behind his back., The protection of human life is our primary duty as police officers, interim Police Chief Randy Fenn said last week in announcing a series of investigations into the death. Gonzalez wont produce any identification, so the officers try to force his hands behind his back to handcuff him, but he does not let his arms go limp. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Gonzalezs family filed a legal claim against the city of Alameda last June, and their attorney told the news station KTVU they plan to file a federal lawsuit soon. The APD took a calm situation and made it fatal.". 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. 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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.. 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. And while the city had vowed transparency in the months after Gonzalez died, the latest update this week stated: "withholding potentially responsive material at this time remains necessary to avoid substantially interfering with the multiple investigations into the incident. He is a graduate of Bowie State University in Maryland with a BS degree in communications. 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. We believe it is an accurate and very comprehensive conclusion in the death of Mario Gonzalez.. "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. The independent autopsy, which was requested by the familys 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.. The autopsy by the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau rules Gonzalez's death a homicide but says the main cause was "toxic effects of methamphetamine.". Most Californians can put off filing taxes until Oct. 16 but should they? Body camera footage shows the police restraining Gonzalez for five minutes, at which point he went limp. "They wanted to keep him from tripping, so they killed him instead? No officers were charged. , but the video shows Gonzalez stopped breathing on site and one officer declaring no pulse as officers began CPR. This, in our view, is an unintended, unexpected death from the use of proper training and accepted techniques in the law enforcement industry.. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? for the officers. He also holds a AA degree in journalism from Contra Costa College (San Pablo). Crime and Public Safety | "There was no reason to detain him, let alone kill him. Interim Police Chief Randy Fenn told KTVU-TV said the video was "troubling" and offered his condolences to Gonzalez's family. The three officers remain on paid administrative leave, according to the city of Alameda. Edith Arenales of Oakland holds a picture of her son, Mario Gonzalez, who was killed by Alameda police on April 19, 2021. Heres how. 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. 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Body camera video released shortly afterward, it was clear that Gonzalez was still resisting with his entire,! If that had taken place 's mother, who lost another son years! They imply my husband is a freak are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy coroner.