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Recently unsealed video shows California man screaming ‘I can’t breathe’ before dying in police custody after 2020 traffic stop
Bronstein is heard repeatedly telling officers, “I am unable to breathe,” whereas pinned on the bottom.
These three phrases would tug on the world’s conscience lower than two months later when repeated by George Floyd earlier than his loss of life whereas being restrained by Minneapolis police.
The CHP video was launched to be used in a federal wrongful loss of life lawsuit introduced by Bronstein’s household in opposition to the state of California, CHP and particular person officers who had been on scene when Bronstein died. No officers have been charged in reference to Bronstein’s loss of life.
The choice to unseal the video Tuesday was made as a result of “the general public’s curiosity within the conduct of its peace officers outweighs different pursuits and any threat of particularized hurt,” US Justice of the Peace Decide John McDermott defined in his order.
The lawsuit, filed within the Central District of California, alleges officers used “extreme and objectively unreasonable” power in opposition to Bronstein, who was “unarmed, restrained, and surrounded by uniformed peace officers.” That extreme power “was additionally a results of the negligent employment, negligent retention, and negligent supervision” of the officers by the CHP, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory damages and requests a jury trial.
The Los Angeles County District Lawyer’s Workplace tells CNN it’s reviewing the case, and CHP declined to remark, citing ongoing litigation.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s workplace didn’t reply to CNN’s request for remark.
Luis Carillo, an lawyer representing Bronstein’s household, instructed CNN in a press release the officers who restrained him had no “reverence for human life.”
“EVEN after he mentioned he would ‘willingly’ obey the officers STILL BRUTALIZED HIM ANYWAY,” Carillo mentioned. “NOBODY ought to die this fashion. The household will at all times endure the lack of love of Edward.”
Bronstein mentioned he could not breathe a number of occasions, video reveals
After the early morning site visitors cease on March 31, 2020, the lawsuit alleges Bronstein was taken into custody and transferred to the CHP Altadena Station the place officers tried to take a blood pattern on the storage space of the station.
Initially of the almost 18-minute video, Bronstein is positioned on his knees by two officers whereas handcuffed behind his again. Not less than 5 uniformed officers are seen throughout numerous components of the video.
Bronstein expresses a number of occasions that he’ll comply and questions why cops are taking his blood pattern.
“Have a seat and supply your arm. That is your final alternative. In any other case, you are going face down on the mat, and we will carry on going,” an officer is heard saying.
Bronstein agrees however expresses some hesitancy by asking for “a minute,” and is heard saying “I am unable to do it” when nearly instantly officers convey him face all the way down to the mat. Bronstein is seen screaming and crying whereas 5 uniformed officers are restraining him. One officer is seen showing to put his knee onto Bronstein’s neck, and Bronstein is heard repeatedly telling officers, “I am going to do it willingly.”
Lower than a minute later, Bronstein says a mixture of “I am unable to breathe” and “let me breathe” not less than 12 occasions inside a 30-second span.
A number of uniformed officers inform him to cease transferring and an off-camera voice is heard saying, “The extra you progress, the more serious it will be bro.”
Bronstein then yells out, “Put your leg down! I am unable to breathe!” He steadily stops talking and may solely be heard making grunting noises. About three minutes into the video, Bronstein seems to cease transferring.
For a number of minutes, officers and what seems to be a medical skilled are seen within the video persevering with to test Bronstein for any signal of life whereas persevering with to take his blood pattern.
Greater than 12 minutes into the video, officers are instructed by an off-camera voice to “uncuff him.” On the 14-minute mark, officers on website are nonetheless checking Bronstein for indicators of life.
“Is {that a} pulse? … Is he respiration? … If he is obtained a pulse and he isn’t respiration, he nonetheless wants rescue,” the identical off-camera voice is heard saying.
Over the past three minutes of the video, the medical skilled and officers are seen administering medical help to Bronstein, who seems unresponsive.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s workplace later decided Bronstein died from “acute methamphetamine intoxication throughout restraint by legislation enforcement.” It listed the way of loss of life as “undetermined.”
The trial date within the federal lawsuit is scheduled for December 13, courtroom paperwork present.