Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced on Thursday that three officers from the Alameda Police Department have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Mario Gonzalez, a 26-year-old man who died in 2021 while being restrained by officers.
The charges were filed by the DA's Public Accountability Unit against officers Eric McKinley, James Fisher, and Cameron Leahy. If convicted, they could face up to four years in state prison, Price stated.
Addressing the development, Price emphasized her detachment from the case and any ensuing decisions, affirming that she would not play a role in the proceedings—a decision she made independently. She commended the Public Accountability Unit, which she established in January 2023, for taking action and bringing forth the charges.
Mario Gonzalez tragically passed away on April 19, 2021, after officers pinned him face-down to the ground for an extended period during an encounter. His death sparked significant scrutiny and led to a wrongful death lawsuit settlement with the City of Alameda and the involved officers, amounting to $11 million in December.
The incident unfolded when officers responded to a report of a man behaving erratically in an Alameda park, later identified as Gonzalez. He was suspected of shoplifting, prompting officers to attempt to take him into custody, resulting in his death at the scene.
Initial autopsy findings in 2021 attributed Gonzalez's death to various factors, including the effects of methamphetamine, physiological stress from the altercation and restraint, obesity, and alcoholism. However, a subsequent autopsy determined that restraint asphyxiation was the primary cause of death.