Man Dies After Officers Kneel On His Neck For Nearly 5 Minutes, Family Says In Wrongful Death Claim
CALIFORNIA, USA: A man who was going through a mental health episode passed away after cops kneeled on the back of his neck for about 5 minutes, family attorneys said.
30-year-old Angelo Quinto had been “suffering from anxiety, depression, and paranoia for the previous few months,” his family’s lawyers revealed in a wrongful death claim, filed earlier this month.
The man’s sister, Isabella Collins, called 911 to their home in Antioch on December 23 because she was afraid he would harm their mother, family attorney John L. Burris said during a press conference that took place on February 18.
According to the claim, when officers arrived at the scene, Quinto’s mother, Maria Quinto-Collins, had already calmed him down. When two of the cops arrived, Burris said they did not even bother trying to understand what was happening and instead, right away grabbed the man from the arms of his mother.
The family of a Navy veteran who was detained by Antioch, CA police while suffering a mental health crisis has filed a claim against the city.
Family say police knelt on Angelo Quinto's neck for 5 minutes while he was handcuffed. He died 3 days later.
(Photo: John Burris) pic.twitter.com/LviXoXo6jg
— AJ+ (@ajplus) February 22, 2021
Quinto fainted and was taken to a hospital, where he died 3 days later, the lawyers said in the claim.
The mother used her mobile phone to capture some of what went down that day.
“What happened?,” she says in shock as her son is seen not moving and laying on the ground.
My heart breaks for the family of #AngeloQuinto– a 30yo Filipino American who was killed by the police. His family called 9/11 for a mental health crisis & instead a police officer puts a knee on his neck that knocks him unconscious. He died 3 days later. https://t.co/xBUoKFJCgZ
— Kevin Nadal, Ph.D. (@kevinnadal) February 21, 2021
The man is then being rolled over by the officers, revealing a bloodied face.
Upon arrival, medics are trying to get him back through chest compressions as his mother keeps recording while asking questions.
The family of Angelo Quinto, who have filed a wrongful death suit against Antioch police, says he was asphyxiated when police officers held a knee to his neck, ignoring his pleas of "Please don't kill me." https://t.co/RxeKYKlwJr
— Angry Asian Man (@angryasianman) February 22, 2021
Whether the officers were wearing bodycams is not clear.
“As far as we know, they were not,” the family attorney said last week.
WARNING!!! THE VIDEO BELOW MIGHT BE DISTURBING FOR SOME VIEWERS!!!
Police have not issued a press release regarding Quinton’s death.
The Antioch Police Department and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Division have not yet responded to requests for comment.
“These Antioch police officers had already handcuffed Angelo but did not stop their assault on the young man and inexplicably began using the ‘George Floyd’ technique of placing a knee on the back and side of his neck, ignoring Mr. Quinto pleas of ‘please don’t kill me,’” Burris said.
The man’s cause of death has not yet been officially made clear, the Contra Costa County Sheriff Coroner’s office told CNN. The case is still under investigation by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office.
Quinto’s sister said she called 911 in hopes they would help calm her brother down.
“I don’t think I will ever not feel bad,” she told KGO. “If it was the right thing to do, it wouldn’t have killed my brother.”
Authorities are yet to respond for comment.
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