Alameda officers put on leave following death of suspect

(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

(ALAMEDA, Calif.) Three Alameda police officers have been put on leave following the death of 26-year-old Mario Gonzalez, East Bay Times reports.

Alameda city spokesperson Sarah Henry announced that officers Eric McKinley, James Fisher and Cameron Leahy have been put on leave.

Gonzalez’s death stemmed from an incident on April 19 when police received reports of an intoxicated man and a possible shoplifting suspect.

Officers made contact with Gonzalez at a small park and attempted to handcuff him after questioning him.

Gonzalez was shown being pinned face down by the officers in a patch of bark covered dirt as the three officers struggled to restrain him in body cam footage released Tuesday.

The video also shows one officer applying pressure to Gonzalez's back with his knee and arm with five minutes passing between the start of the struggle and Gonzalez becoming unresponsive.

One officer can be heard in the footage telling another “no weight on his chest,” as that officer was applying pressure and leaning on Gonzalez.

Seconds later, the officers can be seen administering CPR and checking for a pulse.

“He went from combative to nonresponsive almost immediately,” said one of the officers in the video. Gonzalez was transported by paramedics to a nearby hospital where he later died.

Members of Gonzalez’s family have said that he was “murdered” by the officers.

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