The video shows that one officer put an elbow on his neck and a knee on his shoulder, while another appeared to put a knee on his back and leave it there for about four minutes as Gonzalez gasped for air, saying, "I didn't do nothing, OK? Parking enforcement officer Charlie Clemmens, who the city also determined was involved in the death, "is not being scheduled for work," Henry said. 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. Published His face had minor abrasions. But he urged people to wait for the results of a full investigation. Meth didnt kill Mario, the officers did.. The officers roll Gonzalez over and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but he was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Separately, the Police Department is conducting an internal affairs probe into the altercation, and the district attorney is reviewing the case to determine whether to file criminal charges. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. The city said Civilian Parking Enforcement employee Charlie Clemmens was also involved. former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder in George Floyds death. 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. It is shameful that District Attorney Nancy OMalley did not have the courage to bring criminal charges for this homicide. At least one officer kneeled on his back for nearly five minutes until Gonzalez became unresponsive. Its peer-reviewed. The law firm also announced an online fundraising campaign on behalf of Cortez and Gonzalezs son. However, the independent autopsy, performed April 27, 2021 by renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, says the primary cause of death was restraint asphyxiation. "Theres nothing in the report that any of the techniques used by the officers were unreasonable or excessive. Related Articles The police should have known to use better tactics with Mario. 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, 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. 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.. I agree with the sheriff-coroner that it is a homicide. "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. Charge all those involved so no one else has to lose their loved one.. Lisa Fernandez and Evan Sernoffsky are reporters forKTVU. 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. Gonzalez's life began to unravel during the pandemic. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Experts have expressed shock at his death, questioning why the officers pinned him when he appeared to pose no imminent threat. 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. Alameda police pinned down Mario Gonzalez. for the officers. 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. State storms arent letting up. The civil litigation filed by Gonzalezs family is ongoing and the the Citys legal team is committed to defending the City in the pending litigation, Sarah Henry, public information officer for the City of Alameda told CNN in a statement. 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 said he will soon file a federal lawsuit against the city and the officers involved. 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. Crime and Public Safety | 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. Crime and Public Safety | Did you encounter any technical issues? But body camera video released shortly afterward, it was clear that Gonzalez was unarmed. Both suits claim Gonzalez appeared to be confused and possibly intoxicated at the time, but was not a threat to himself or anyone else and that he wasnt involved in any crime. In April, police in Alameda, California, kneeled on Mario Gonzalezs back for nearly five minutes before he died. Please enter valid email address to continue. She joined the Chronicle in 2015 after stints at several alt weekly newspapers. 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. appreciated. Gonzalez died hours before the case against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin went to the jury. Walking around with that level of meth, he wouldnt have dropped dead at that moment but for the force by police, Haddad said. Family members said Gonzalez had no known health conditions and have previously contended that he did not die from medical complications. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Hes lifting my whole body weight up, an officer tells his colleague. Off work, he enjoys playing in bands, busking and karaoke. 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. 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. After learning his name, the officer adds, Mario, just please stop fighting us.. CNNs Stella Chan contributed to this report. 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 The independent autopsy found that, if not for his asphyxial brain injury, Mr. Gonzalez, more likely than not, would not have died. It noted that most people who take methamphetamine do not die of it and that the meth in this case was not the underlying cause of death. As the coroners report found, this autopsy also confirmed that the manner of death was homicide. Members of the Gonzalez family believe police used excessive force when they attempted to arrest him. Alameda Police "mishandled" the arrest of 26-year-old Mario Gonzalez last week and caused his death, according to the attorney representing the man's family. Gonzalez died April 19 after police pinned him to the ground for at least five minutes. On April 19, 2021, Mario Gonzalez, an unarmed 26-year-old Latino man, died while under police custody by the Alameda, California Police Department. [2] [3] [4] In their initial report of the incident, the department reported that Gonzalez died after a "scuffle" and "physical altercation" resulting in a "medical emergency." 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. Officers Eric McKinley, James Fisher, and Cameron Leahy controlled Gonzalezs arms, back, and legs as his arms were cuffed behind his back, the report says. OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alameda County Sheriff-Coroners Office finally released the Coroners and autopsy report concerning Mario Gonzalezs family is still grieving without answers more than six months after the young Latino father died when police in Alameda, California, kneeled on his back for nearly five 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, 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. Part of HuffPost Politics. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. County officials dispute that characterization. No officers were charged. Feds drop felony gun case days after defense argued SFPD illegally arrested, searched defendant 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, according to an independent autopsy requested by family attorneys and released Wednesday. A tremendous amount work went into this investigation by our pathologist and coroners investigative team, Kelly said. Gonzalez family: Police body-worn camera footage shows what we alreadyknew Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. 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. 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), Alameda County DAs new policy will reduce prison sentences through widespread elimination of sentencing enhancements, Mario Gonzalez died of restraint asphyxiation in Alameda police custody, independent autopsy says. 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. A spokesperson for the sheriff, Lt. Ray Kelly, said the office stands by the corners report. The police killed my brother, in the same manner they killed George Floyd, his brother Gerardo Gonzalez told reporters Tuesday. "Once they're controlling him, as we learned from the Floyd trial with all those medical experts, this position or compression is deadly," said Geoffrey Alpert, a professor of criminology at the University of South Carolina and an expert on police use of force. But he questioned the coroners finding that methamphetamine was the main cause of Gonzalezs death. No weight no weight.. 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. 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. Part of HuffPost Politics. The county coroners office had classified the death of Mario Gonzalez Arenales as a homicide and pointed to the toxic effects of methamphetamine as the leading cause.. City officials stated they are "committed to full transparency and accountability in the aftermath of Mr. Gonzalez's death." There were also reports that someone stole liquor bottles from a nearby store. He said the lack of accountability for the police officers was bullcrap., We know that what happened wasnt right, Jerry said. The three officers remain on paid administrative leave, according to the city of Alameda. Alameda Police officers James Fisher, Cameron Leahy and Eric McKinley the officers who struggled with Gonzalez before his death remain on paid administrative leave. Photos: Youth-led march honors Oakland man who died in Alameda police custody 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. Crime and Public Safety | 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. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? Gonzalez, 26, died on April 19, 2021, following an encounter with three Alameda police officers who responded to a call that a person was acting strangely and talking to himself, according to a March 30 report from the Alameda County District Attorneys office. Previously, she covered City Hall for Glendale News-Press, then part of Times Community News. The Alameda County Sheriffs Office said in May that it intended to have the autopsy reviewed by outside agencies after its completion. The officers remain on paid administrative leave until all investigations are complete, according to the City of Alameda, which is handling its own independent investigation of the death. The loss of Mr. Gonzalez is a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones.. CNN The family of Mario Gonzalez Arenales, a Northern California man who died after he was restrained by police officers in April, has filed a wrongful death claim Rachel Swan is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Gonzalez, 26, died April 19, 2021, as he was being restrained outside 802 Oak St. in Alameda. 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. 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. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. During the interaction with law enforcement agents, he was face-down on the ground (prone) with his hands handcuffed behind his back, and at times the officers were applying pressure to his torso and legs with at least some of the weight of their bodies. 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. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan. 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. 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. It was not clear Friday if that had taken place. 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. "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. Born in Berkeley, she graduated from Cal with a degree in rhetoric and is now raising two daughters in El Cerrito. Clearly now the onus is on the DA to prosecute these officers for the homicide.. 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. SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The death of Mario Gonzalez in April as he was being restrained by Alameda police employees has been ruled a homicide by the Alameda Meth didnt kill Mario, the officers did., Earlier this month, the Alameda County district attorney announced. Or follow her on Twitter @ljfernandez. Crime and Public Safety | "Officers have been instructed to not keep handcuffed subjects prone (face-down) and to instead roll them onto their sides for going on 30 years," said Seth Stoughton, who teaches criminology and criminal justice at the University of South Carolina. Tehama County Sheriffs Office resuming daytime patrols Sunday Gonzalez, 26, of Oakland, died on April 19 at a hospital after being pinned down as Alameda police tried to arrest him. 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