Three Northern California law enforcement officers, James Fisher, Cameron Leahy, and Eric McKinley, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Mario Gonzalez, who died in Alameda on April 19, 2021. The officers, who were all with the Alameda Police Department at the time, confronted Gonzalez after receiving 911 calls about his behavior. Police video shows the officers pinning Gonzalez facedown to the ground for several minutes before he became unconscious. The county coroner’s autopsy listed the cause of death as “toxic effects of methamphetamine” with other contributing factors. However, an independent autopsy requested by Gonzalez’s family found that he died of “restraint asphyxiation,” which led to the charges of involuntary manslaughter against the officers.
Initial findings by then-District Attorney Nancy O’Malley had cleared the officers of any wrongdoing, stating that their actions were reasonable. However, current Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has filed charges just before the statute of limitations expired, leading to accusations of political motivation from the defense attorneys. The officers’ attorneys argue that the charges are a desperate attempt by Price to secure her position in the face of a looming recall election later in the year. They maintain that the actions of the officers were reasonable, necessary, and lawful, and that the cause of death was due to drug toxicity. Despite the controversy surrounding the case, Price asserts that the review was conducted independently by her office’s Public Accountability Unit.
The announcement of charges against the officers follows the settlement of two lawsuits over Gonzalez’s death, in which the city of Alameda agreed to pay $11 million to his young son and $350,000 to his mother. This development has been welcomed by the attorney representing Gonzalez’s mother, who believes that a wrong has been righted. The defense attorneys for the officers remain confident that a jury will exonerate their clients, as previous independent investigations had done. The case has drawn parallels to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and has reignited discussions about police use of force and accountability in law enforcement activities.
The circumstances surrounding Mario Gonzalez’s death, the subsequent investigations, and the recent charges filed against the three officers have sparked debate and controversy in the community. The differing conclusions reached by the county coroner’s autopsy and the independent autopsy commissioned by Gonzalez’s family have added complexity to the case. The involvement of multiple legal parties, including the district attorney’s office, defense attorneys, and the attorneys representing Gonzalez’s family, underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for a fair and thorough examination of the events that led to Gonzalez’s death.
As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of the case will likely have far-reaching implications for law enforcement practices and accountability in the region. The charges of involuntary manslaughter against the officers represent a significant development in the case and have raised questions about the handling of the initial investigations. The defense attorneys’ claims of political motivation on the part of the district attorney add another layer of complexity to an already contentious issue. Ultimately, the resolution of this case will be a test of the legal system’s ability to deliver justice and accountability in cases of police misconduct and excessive use of force.
