Three police officers have been charged in the death of Mario Gonzalez in Northern California, who was pinned facedown on the ground for over five minutes. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office announced involuntary manslaughter charges against the officers two years after the previous DA concluded that there was not enough evidence to charge them. An initial autopsy attributed Gonzalez’s death to methamphetamine toxicity, physiological stress, obesity, and alcoholism. A second autopsy, conducted by the current DA’s public accountability unit, found that Gonzalez died as a result of restraint asphyxiation, leading to the charges being filed.
The charges have been brought after an extensive review of the case by the current DA, Pamela Price, in an effort to rebuild trust in the system. One of the three officers is no longer employed by the department, while the other two have been placed on administrative leave. The attorney for the officers, Alison Berry Wilkinson, claims that there is no new evidence and called the prosecution blatantly political. The city of Alameda has not yet commented on the charges, and the attorneys for Gonzalez’s family were not immediately available for comment. Gonzalez’s death occurred one day before Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd, leading to comparisons between the two cases.
Body-camera video released by the police showed officers pinning Gonzalez to the ground after receiving 911 calls about his disoriented or drunk behavior in a park. Gonzalez appeared dazed and struggled to answer questions, prompting the officers to try to handcuff him. Despite his resistance, they forcefully took him to the ground. The city of Alameda reached two settlement agreements with Gonzalez’s family in December, with one agreement offering $11 million to his estate and another $350,000 to his mother. These settlements were expected to discharge all claims and causes of action against the city, but it is unclear how the charges against the officers will impact the agreements.
The death of Mario Gonzalez has drawn parallels to the death of George Floyd, with both incidents involving police officers using force that resulted in fatalities. Gonzalez was only 26 years old when he died, and the community has been calling for accountability in his case. The timing of the charges, on the eve of the third anniversary of his death, adds significance to the pursuit of justice in this case. The reopening of the case by the current DA’s office highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in law enforcement when dealing with cases of excessive force and deaths in custody.
The announcement of charges against the officers highlights the ongoing efforts to seek justice for Mario Gonzalez and hold law enforcement accountable for their actions. The impact of this case goes beyond the individuals involved and reflects broader concerns about police brutality and systemic racism. The decision to charge the officers with involuntary manslaughter demonstrates a commitment to addressing the wrongful deaths that have occurred at the hands of law enforcement. Moving forward, the legal process will play out as the officers defend themselves against the charges, and the community continues to demand justice for Mario Gonzalez.
