16-year-old student killed in violent altercation at Santa Rosa's Californias storms arent letting up. The project will marry her graduate work in clinical psychology and more than 10 years of journalism experience. With police on top of him, Gonzalez can be heard groaning under the officers weight while continuing to respond to questions. Autopsy finds Mario Gonzalez died from meth, police restraint in Alameda struggle By Lisa Fernandez and Evan Sernoffsky Published December 10, 2021 Updated 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. 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 officers released Gonzalez several minutes later and found him unresponsive. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. 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 Gonzalez, 26, of Oakland, died on April 19 at a hospital after being pinned down as Alameda police tried to arrest him. I know they are already suffering the severe trauma of losing a loved one, Joshi said. He was highly intoxicated in a public place, in a manner where he was unable to care for himself, Berry Wilkinson said. 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. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. Alameda Police Department CNN The Alameda County 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Email Lisa atlisa.fernandez@fox.comor call her at510-874-0139. The emphasis on Gonzalezs drug history incensed an attorney representing the deceased mans son, who accused the coroner of trying to shield the police from scrutiny. Gonzalez's death came amid ongoing tensions between police and communities they're sworn to protect, following the police killing of George Floyd less than one year earlier. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But he questioned the coroners finding that methamphetamine was the main cause of Gonzalezs death. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. , released Wednesday, said that Gonzalez died on April 19, 2021, from restraint asphyxiation, according to forensic pathologist Bennet Omalu. The case has sparked outrage in the community. Click here and here to download a copy of the coroner's report. 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. The sheriffs office is also convening a cause and manner of death committee to review the case before releasing any findings, sheriff spokesman Sgt. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. He adored our son and was a good father. I agree with the sheriff-coroner that it is a homicide. 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. Haddad said his firm has hired a doctor to conduct a second autopsy, the results of which have not yet been finalized. By Sarah Ruiz-Grossman Apr 27, 2022, 08:56 PM EDT Edith Arenales of Oakland holds a picture of her son, Mario Gonzalez, who was killed by Alameda police on April 19, 2021. 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. The cause of Gonzalezs death was the toxic effects of However, the independent autopsy, performed April 27, 2021 by renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, says the primary cause of death was restraint asphyxiation. But he delayed those dreams to helphis mom with the bills and care for his younger brother who suffers from severe autism. The methamphetamine detected in his blood combined with his enlarged and dilated heart could have together resulted in fatal cardiac arrhythmia, the report continued. Crime and Public Safety | "We don't even know the cause of death right now," he said. All four employees have now been interviewed by both the sheriff's and district attorney's investigators, the city said. County officials dispute that characterization. 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. The state DOJ told HuffPost that it is their understanding that the case is being handled at the local level.. 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, 2021, in Alameda, Calif. Gonzalez stopped breathing during the arrest and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Body camera footage shows the police restraining Gonzalez for five minutes, at which point he went limp. Were going to take care of you, OK, were going to take care of you, one officer tells him. The family also wants the California Department of Justice to investigate the police departments handling of the case. All three remain on paid leave. 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. Chief forensic pathologist, Vivian Snyder, cites other significant contributing factors to Gonzalez's death, including the physiologic stress of the restraint by police during the incident as well as alcoholism and morbid obesity. 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. Then the cops put Marios hands behind his back and pinned him facedown. Since joining The Times in 2020, Seidman has served on the breaking news and utility desks, wheres she written about Indigenous communities, wildfires threatening giant trees and fishing the L.A. River. "Theres nothing in the report that any of the techniques used by the officers were unreasonable or excessive. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Crime and Public Safety | SEE ALSO: Andrew Brown Jr. shot 5 times, including in back of head, attorneys say independent On April 19, 2021, police in the Bay Area city knelt on Marios back for nearly four minutes, until he died. "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. 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. 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. Though both claims are related, they will remain separate but move forward side-by-side, Sherwin told CNN. 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. In a case that drew national attention and comparisons to the murder of George Floyd an autopsy report released Friday for a California man who died in April after being restrained by police identifies his manner of death a homicide but cites methamphetamine toxicity as the leading cause. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? After graduating from Coliseum College Preparatory in Oakland, Gonzalez had plannedto go toAlameda College. They did a tremendous job under difficult circumstances.". Gonzalez, 26, died April 19, 2021, as he was being restrained outside 802 Oak St. in Alameda. Again, my heart goes out to Mr. Gonzalez and his family.". The APD took a calm situation and made it fatal.". CNNs Stella Chan contributed to this report. Gonzalez in the video acts dazed and struggles to answer officers questions. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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.. And while none of his family members knows exactly what Gonzalez was doing in Alameda that day, they said he often traveled therefor peace and quiet. 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. An officer says, I forgive you.. Its a video that has drawn comparison to that of the George Floyd killing. 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 Accordingly, the department has again determined that the public interest in non-disclosure clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure.". "Itwas the strength and intensity of Mr. Gonzalez's own momentum" that caused the group to fall. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. The death is under investigation by the Alameda County Sheriff's Department, the district attorney's office and a former San Francisco city attorney hired by Alameda to lead an independent probe. After learning his name, the officer adds, Mario, just please stop fighting us.. Body camera video shows officers attempt to take Mario Gonzalez into custody on April 19, 2021. Its been a long year, just the way weve been treated by the legal process., My brother was a human, he added. 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? 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. The officers roll Gonzalez over and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but he was later pronounced dead at a hospital. 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. She said that the officers noted he was highly intoxicated and stumbling around on a tree stump and thought he might harm himself. 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. Lisa Fernandez and Evan Sernoffsky are reporters forKTVU. Therefore the cause of death is the toxic effects of methamphetamine, with the physiologic stress of altercation and restraint, morbid obesity, and alcoholism contributing to the process of dying.. Police said Gonzalez died later at the hospital, but the video shows Gonzalez stopped breathing on site and one officer declaring no pulse as officers began CPR. The proposed reforms include creating a civilian police oversight board, revising the department's use-of-force policies and requiring a "non-police response" to certain types of 911 calls. The footage from the Alameda Police Department shows the man, Mario Arenales Gonzalez, becoming unresponsive while in handcuffs and police officers quickly for the officers. 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. died after Alameda police officers restrained him on his stomach for five minutes, Lawyer Says Police Didn't Need To Arrest Man Who Died After Being Pinned To Ground. Heres why thats wise, An assault and fatal stabbing in the middle of class at a Santa Rosa high school, With unfounded fraud claims swirling, red California county dumps Dominion voting machines, Man arrested in connection to 7 bombings in Fresno has links to hate group, authorities say. 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. Heres what the first half of Is Californias drought finally over? But body camera video released shortly afterward, it was clear that Gonzalez was unarmed. Please dont do it, Gonzalez says at one point, and then, Im sorry, followed by screams and groans. 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. 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Mario Gonzalez Died Of 'Restraint Asphyxiation' By Police, New Autopsy Finds An independent autopsy confirmed what the Latino fathers family had declared: Police in He also holds a AA degree in journalism from Contra Costa College (San Pablo). Previously, she covered City Hall for Glendale News-Press, then part of Times Community News. 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. 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. But it won't last long. Sherwin said she believes Gonzalez died of asphyxiation and said the amount of methamphetamine in his system was low. 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. Adante Pointer, lawyer for Edith Arenales, Gonzalezs mother, told CNN the family is disappointed the officers wont be criminally prosecuted but the decision doesnt come as a surprise. 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.. Clearly now the onus is on the DA to prosecute these officers for the homicide.. former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder in George Floyds death. Hes going unresponsive, one officer says. 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. Related Articles He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Tehama County Sheriffs Office resuming daytime patrols Sunday Hes respectful, all the time, Marios mother, Edith Arenales, said. "He's hyperventilating, he's obese, apparently he's been drinking Officers need to recognize those factors and take them into consideration.". AP She's says she's hopeful the Alameda County District Attorney's office "will do their job and prosecute the officers for the homicide that they committed, to hold those officers accountable in criminal court in Alameda County. Experts have expressed shock at his death, In the report the district attorneys office cited the National Association of Medical Examiners in saying that homicide is a neutral term and does not in any way affect the District Attorneys Offices determination in the criminal context., The district attorney added in the report that, A homicide can be lawful or unlawful.. An independent autopsy confirmed what Mario Gonzalezs family had maintained all along: The 26-year-old Latino father died last year because Alameda, California, police officers knelt on his back for several minutes until he stopped breathing not, as the Alameda County coroners report had implied, because of meth in his system. A Warner Bros. S.F. Caution: It is graphic. 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. 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. 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 asked outside agencies to assist in reviewing the autopsy of Mario Gonzalez, who died in the custody of Alameda police officers. 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. Mario Gonzalez died after three officers and a civilian employee pinned him face down on the ground for more than five minutes. "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. 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. Mario is shown on the video calmly speaking with the officers for nearly nine minutes. The new autopsy results, released Wednesday, said that Gonzalez died on April 19, 2021, from restraint asphyxiation, according to forensic pathologist Bennet Omalu. He fought the officers, and they used reasonable techniques. The last delay was on Tuesday. Photo: Lisa Fernandez. 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. A week after Gonzalezs death, the city identified the officers placed on leave as James Fisher, Cameron Leahy and Eric McKinely. appreciated. The police should have known to use better tactics with Mario. hide caption. Heres what first half of March looks like. 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. ALAMEDA The death of an Oakland man who went unconscious while police held him to the ground was determined to be a homicide as a result of the altercation with officers, as well as methamphetamine use,and obesity, according to an autopsy made public this week. A spokesperson for the sheriff, Lt. Ray Kelly, said the office stands by the corners report. Heres how. Gonzalez, who complied with officers attempts to converse, appeared disoriented in a video later released. His face had minor abrasions. 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. Mario Gonzalez, a 26-year-old father and east Oakland resident, stopped breathing after an 19 April encounter with police at a park in the city of Alameda, in the San 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.. The autopsy also noted that Gonzalez had more than 20 cuts and bruises. Paramedics rushed him to Alameda Hospital, where he arrived in cardiac arrest, not breathing, with no pulse, according to the report. The three police officers and the civilian employee are on administrative leave. But he urged people to wait for the results of a full investigation. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. Kelly added that the investigation of Gonzalezs death needs this level of action for public trust.. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Related Articles And Mario's 5-year-old son, also named Mario, will hold them accountable in civil court in a federal civil rights lawsuit.". An altercation occurred, an officer was seen pinning a man for at least four minutes, and soon Mario Gonzalez was dead. The other refuses, saying he doesn't want to lose his grip. Hes a lovely guy. His family said officers unnecessarily escalated what should have been a minor, peaceful encounter with the unarmed man. pizza favorite shuts down after 13 years, plus more closings, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). 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. Charge all those involved so no one else has to lose their loved one.. "There was no reason to detain him, let alone kill him. Alameda police Officer Erick McKinley was among several officers who responded on April 19, 2021 in the citys Scout Park after a resident called police to claim Gonzalezs presence was scaring his wife. Police Chief Nishant Joshi extended condolences to Gonzalezs family in a statement. By. "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. 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. Little Mario will hold the officers who killed his Papi accountable in federal court, and we will fight for reforms so no other family will suffer the way Marios family has suffered from this completely preventable and senseless death., Andrea Cortez, the mother of Mario Gonzalezs child, added: Mario was a peaceful, calm person. 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." Alameda police pinned down Mario Gonzalez. 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. 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. Therefore, the report concludes, the cause of death is the toxic effects of methamphetamine, with the physiologic stress of altercation and restraint, morbid obesity, and alcoholism contributing to the process of dying., Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. The new information being released adds to that pain.. It is unclear if the city will lift the hold on the release of more information now that the autopsy has been released. 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Video Shows Police Kneeled On Mario Gonzalez's Back For 5 .. 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