OAKLAND — The mom of Mario Gonzalez has filed a federal swimsuit in opposition to the Alameda cops that piled on prime of him for a number of minutes, as he handed out and later died, marking the second time in two months a member of Gonzalez’s household has taken authorized motion.
The swimsuit, filed Thursday in federal court docket on behalf of Edith Arenales, accuses Alameda officers of utilizing “unjustified lethal power” whereas Gonzalez begged for his life. The swimsuit names Officers James Fisher, Cameron Leahy and Eric McKinely, in addition to Alameda interim police Chief Randy Fenn, and the town, as defendants.
“Officers used their mixed physique weight to press Mario face down into the pavement and foreseeably triggered a medical disaster from which Mario tragically by no means recovered and precipitated his premature demise,” civil rights attorneys Adante Pointer and Patrick Buelna wrote within the civil grievance.
Gonzalez’s April 2021 demise was dominated a murder after a prolonged coroner’s investigation. The medical expert attributed it to the battle with the officers in addition to methamphetamine use and weight problems.
Final December, representatives of Gonzalez’s 5-year-old son filed a federal swimsuit with near-identical allegations. The events haven’t defined why they’ve filed fits individually.
Physique digital camera video of Gonzalez’s demise reveals officers holding him to the bottom for 5 minutes earlier than he goes unconscious. Blood assessments have been constructive for methamphetamine and amphetamine, in accordance with the post-mortem report. The post-mortem additionally famous that Gonzalez had greater than 20 cuts and bruises.
The Alameda County District Lawyer remains to be investigating and to date hasn’t dominated whether or not to cost the concerned officers.
Lawyer Patrick Moriarty, who's representing the officers, mentioned in a press release: “The lack of Mario Gonzalez’s life was certainly tragic, and the Metropolis will defend itself, its former police chief, and the named officers in opposition to the allegations.”