Mario Gonzalez’s death declared homicide, coroner accuses police of Alameda who detained him, use of methamphetamine

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ALAMEDA – The death of an Oakland man who lost consciousness while police held him down has been found to be homicide as a result of the altercation with police officers, as well as the use of methamphetamine and alcohol. obesity, according to an autopsy released this week.

The autopsy – published eight months after the incident – revealed that Mario Gonzalez died of a heart attack during a fight with police on April 19. Police body camera video released a week after his death shows several officers holding Gonzalez to the ground for five minutes as they attempt to arrest him on suspicion of shoplifting, a misdemeanor.

“The stress of the altercation and restraint, combined with lying on his stomach in the context of morbid obesity and the recent use of methamphetamine (consumption), put further strain on Mr. Gonzalez, ”the report says. “Therefore, the cause of death is the toxic effects of methamphetamine, physiological stress from altercation and restraint, morbid obesity and alcoholism contributing to the dying process.”

Blood tests were positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine, according to the autopsy report. The autopsy also noted that Gonzalez had more than 20 cuts and bruises.

Michael Haddad, a lawyer representing Gonzalez’s family, said the autopsy “confirms what everyone can see with their own eyes” in the video, and asked why it took eight months for the report to be released . He said he would soon file a federal lawsuit against the city and the officers involved.

“Walking around with this level of methamphetamine, he would not have died by then without the force of the police,” Haddad said. “I agree with the sheriff-coroner that this is a homicide. Clearly, the onus is now on the prosecutor to prosecute these officers for manslaughter. “

The release of the autopsy report is the latest development in the controversial death, which almost immediately sparked protests and comparisons to the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police. Gonzalez’s family filed a lawsuit against the town of Alameda last June, and their lawyer told KTVU news channel that they planned to file a federal lawsuit soon.

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said in May it intended to have the autopsy reviewed by outside agencies after its completion. It was not clear on Friday whether this had happened.

A week after Gonzalez’s death, the city identified the officers on leave as James Fisher, Cameron Leahy and Eric McKinely. A statement released Friday by Alameda Police Chief Nishant Joshi said officers will remain on leave until the investigation is completed.

“While waiting for the district attorney’s office to make its decision and with knowledge of the coroner’s report, the city will work diligently to complete its ongoing independent investigation and take appropriate action,” Joshi said in the statement.

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