This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
Family Seeks Answers in Tucson Police Custody Death ¶
On June 26, 2020, the Tucson Police Department released a video showing the fatal encounter of 27-year-old Carlos Lopez, who died in police custody after being restrained with a spit hood.
According to the family's attorney, Carlos Coronado, Lopez's family is questioning the necessity of the spit hood, which they believe may have impeded Lopez's breathing. The family claims Lopez was gasping for air while being restrained face down on the concrete floor.
Coronado stated, 'All of a sudden, 12 minutes later he's passed away.'
Former Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor, who retired in 2015, expressed concern about the officers' actions, saying, 'You never try and leave someone on their stomach. You turn them to the side and help them sit up so they can breathe. Why they didn’t do that here is going to be one of the major questions.'
Chief Magnus has asked the FBI to examine the circumstances surrounding Lopez's death, while the family is considering filing a civil suit against the police force.
