We are struggling with these daily routines while carrying the burden of grief.. 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. But body camera video released shortly afterward, it was clear that Gonzalez was unarmed. 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.. Gonzalez's mother, who lost another son two years ago, turned 45 the day after Mario died, his brother said. 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. The coroner's officer ruled the death a homicide. This is the video released by police. He also holds a AA degree in journalism from Contra Costa College (San Pablo). 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. 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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. The APD took a calm situation and made it fatal.". State storms arent letting up. 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. At least one officer kneeled on his back for nearly five minutes until Gonzalez became unresponsive. At least one officer kneeled on his back for nearly five minutes until Gonzalez became unresponsive. I think you just had too much to drink today, OK? He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. ey. 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. "There was never a point in time where any officer's knee was on Mr. Gonzalez's neck. 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. 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. During the encounter, Gonzalez remained in a prone position with pressure applied to his posterior torso and legs, the report said. The Alameda County Sheriffs Office said in May that it intended to have the autopsy reviewed by outside agencies after its completion. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The officers approach to Mr Gonzalez detention and arrest and their use of force appeared reasonable under the circumstances, the report says. After learning his name, the officer adds, Mario, just please stop fighting us.. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. AP 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. The Alameda County coroners office is conducting an autopsy. The new autopsy results, released Wednesday, said that Gonzalez died on April 19, 2021, from restraint asphyxiation, according to forensic pathologist Bennet Omalu. 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 other refuses, saying he doesn't want to lose his grip. Ray Kelly said. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. ", Alameda police officers try to revive Mario Gonzalez of Oakland after police restrained him, prone on the ground. Body camera footage shows the police restraining Gonzalez for five minutes, at which point he went limp. "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. Crime and Public Safety | Heres how. April 29, 2021 / 8:35 AM Charge all those involved so no one else has to lose their loved one.. Previously, she covered City Hall for Glendale News-Press, then part of Times Community News. 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. Based on the totality of available information, including investigative, autopsy, and laboratory findings, it is apparent that Mr. Gonzalez Arenales experienced cardiopulmonary arrest because of multiple factors, the report said. They did a tremendous job under difficult circumstances.". Heres what the first half of Is Californias drought finally over? Tehama County Sheriffs Office resuming daytime patrols Sunday Mario Gonzalez, who died after being pinned to the ground by police officers in Alameda, California, was a father of a 4-year-old child. 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. 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.". Email Evan atevan.sernoffsky@fox.comand follow him on Twitter @EvanSernoffsky. Rachel Swan is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. The officers roll Gonzalez over and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but he was later pronounced dead at a hospital. His first newspaper job was as a Washington Post paperboy. On April 19, police in the Bay Area city of Alameda responded to a report of an intoxicated man and a possible theft. Earlier this month, the Alameda County district attorney announced there would be no criminal charges for the officers. Mario Gonzalez Died Of 'Restraint Asphyxiation' By Police, New Autopsy Finds An independent autopsy confirmed what the Latino fathers family had declared: Police in Alameda, California, killed him, not meth. 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. Colorado cop shot and killed unarmed man at point-blank range after struggle outside middle school, video shows By. Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. 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. The officers determine that he is resisting, then push him to the ground, according to the video. 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Gonzalez, a 26-year-old Oakland man, stopped breathing after several Alameda police officers held him face-down on the ground for roughly five minutes. Attorney Julia Sherwin, on behalf of Gonzalezs 5-year-old son, filed a suit in December 2021 and Gonzalezs mother, Edith Arenales, also filed suit in February 2022. Gonzalez, 26, died April 19, 2021, as he was being restrained outside 802 Oak St. in 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. 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 spokeswoman for the Alameda County DA's office declined to comment, citing its ongoing investigation of the case. 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. Gonzalez died hours before the case against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin went to the jury. CNNs Stella Chan contributed to this report. In Alameda County, the sheriff also oversees the coroner's office. Gonzalez, 26, of Oakland, died on April 19 at a hospital after being pinned down as Alameda police tried to arrest him. She said that the officers noted he was highly intoxicated and stumbling around on a tree stump and thought he might harm himself. The family also wants the California Department of Justice to investigate the police departments handling of the case. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Heres the latest plan, Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area. 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. 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. 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. Crime and Public Safety | Police said that Gonzalez then had a "medical emergency. His death was ruled a homicide but also linked to health and drug use, Oakland leaders are scrambling to tackle violence and attract police officers. "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. Please dont do it, Gonzalez says at one point, and then, Im sorry, followed by screams and groans. 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? The initialpress releasefrom the Alameda Police said that officers attempted to detain Gonzalez, and a "physical altercation ensued." The first half of is Californias drought finally over that he is,. Cop shot and killed unarmed man at point-blank range after struggle outside middle school, video shows.... 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