The decision came after a Superior Court judge found that involuntary manslaughter charges against officers James Fisher and Cameron Leahy were not filed within the required three-year statute of limitations. However, charges against Officer Eric McKinley were maintained due to his absence from the country, which extended the limitation period. Charges against two of the three Alameda police officers involved in the 2021 death of Mario Gonzalez have been dropped, NBC Bay Area reports.
In April 2021, the officers were accused of pinning Gonzalez to the ground during a confrontation. This action led to his death and resulted in initial charges being filed against them, a case which has drawn comparisons to the death of George Floyd after the Public Accountability Unit of the Alameda County District Attorney's Office revisited the case with a second autopsy report claiming "Restraint Asphyxiation" as the cause of death, Hoodline reported, the original cause was said to be due to the "Toxic effects of methamphetamine", with the contributing factors including "Physiological stress of altercation and restraint; Morbid obesity; alcoholism."
Gonzalez's mother, Edith Arenales, expressed her frustration regarding the court's recent decision in an interview with Telemundo 48, declaring, "They played with my feelings, they played with the faith I had," and condemning the ruling as a disrespect to human life, as per NBC Bay Area.
In a statement published on its website, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office expressed its disappointment that not all involved officers would be held accountable, emphasizing that the court's decision did not reflect a lack of merit in the case. The prosecutors intend to file an amended complaint against McKinley, whose case remains ongoing. In the wake of public demands for police accountability, Officer McKinley is expected back in court on Friday.
