Killing of Angelo Quinto

Angelo Quinto (March 10, 1990 – December 26, 2020)[1] was a 30-year-old Filipino-American Navy veteran who died on December 26, 2020, from complications after being knelt on the neck by a police officer three days earlier. Prior to the encounter, police were responding to a call that Quinto was suffering from a mental health crisis.[2] On February 18, 2021, Quinto's family and their lawyer, John Burris, filed a complaint against the Antioch Police Department.[3]

Killing of Angelo Quinto
DateDecember 26, 2020 (2020-12-26)
LocationAntioch, California, U.S.
Coordinates37.9821443°N 121.8027333°W / 37.9821443; -121.8027333
Deaths1

Background

Born in the Philippines, Angelo Quinto immigrated to the United States.[4] He graduated from Berkeley High School and attended classes at Berkeley City College. In his twenties, he joined the U.S. Navy but was discharged in 2019, due to a food allergy. In an interview with police following the incident, Quinto's sister Isabella "Bella" Collins said that he showed signs of depression for most of his life, though he was never diagnosed, and that his behavior changed after an assault a year earlier, which left him a black eye, stitches in his head and memory loss.[5]

Incident and death

On December 23, 2020, Bella Collins called 911 reporting suspicious behavior and possible paranoia and anxiety in Angelo, who had grabbed her and their mother, Maria Cassandra Quinto-Collins, hugging them tightly; his sister feared he might hurt their mother.[5] Shortly after 11 p.m., police arrived and grabbed Quinto from Cassandra, who reports that as they put him down on his stomach and handcuffed him,[3][6] he repeatedly said, "Please don't kill me."[4] When Quinto lost consciousness, Cassandra began recording a video of the incident on her cell phone in which blood is seen on Quinto's face and on the floor. The police removed his handcuffs and rolled him into a mobile stretcher,[7] then attempted to resuscitate him through CPR.[8] Officers called an ambulance,[3] and Quinto was taken to the Sutter Delta Medical Center, where he died three days later.[5]

Investigation

Quinto's family filed a wrongful death claim with civil rights attorney John Burris on February 18, 2021.[9] It is stated in the claim that Angelo had been "suffering from anxiety, depression, and paranoia for the previous few months" and that before police arrived, "he had already started to calm down".[10] The police denied using excessive force.[11] A county pathologist stated at the coroner's inquest that Modafinil, which is used to treat narcolepsy, was found in Quinto's system, and said the cause of death was excited delirium syndrome.[12] An autopsy ordered by Quinto's family determined he died from asphyxiation.[6][13]

Reaction

A rally was held at the Antioch Police Department on June 23, 2021.[14]

On September 30, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed eight police reform bills into law. One of them, Assembly Bill 490 or Angelo's Law, bans restraint tactics and face-down holds that could cause asphyxiation.[15]

References
  1. Batesville, Inc. "Obituary for Angelo Quinto at Pittsburg Funeral Chapel". www.pittsburgfuneralchapel.com. Retrieved February 26, 2021. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  2. Wallace, Danielle (February 24, 2021). "Navy vet died after California police knelt on his neck for nearly 5 minutes, family alleges". Fox News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. Madani, Doha (February 24, 2021). "California Navy vet died after police knelt on neck amid mental health crisis, family says". NBC News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. RODRIGUEZ, OLGA R. (February 25, 2021). "Navy veteran in mental health crisis died after California police officer knelt on his neck, family claims". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  5. Swan, Rachel (February 18, 2021). "A mentally ill man died in Antioch police custody. Now his family is seeking answers". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  6. Fortin, Jacey (February 25, 2021). "California Man Died After Police Knelt on Him for 5 Minutes, Family Says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  7. Elfrink, Tim (February 22, 2021). "Navy veteran in mental health crisis died after police knelt on his neck for nearly five minutes, his family says". The Washington Post.
  8. "US navy veteran having mental health crisis died after officer knelt on his neck". the Guardian. February 24, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  9. Hall, Louise (February 24, 2021). "Man experiencing mental health episode died after police kneeled on neck, family claims". The Independent. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  10. Chan, Stella; Asmelash, Leah (February 24, 2021). "Man dies after police kneel on his neck for nearly 5 minutes, family says in wrongful death claim". CNN. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  11. "Antioch police chief pushes back against Angelo Quinto family's claims". East Bay Times. March 3, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  12. "Death of Angelo Quinto, Navy vet who died after struggle with Antioch cops, blamed on 'excited delirium'". East Bay Times. August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  13. "State AG to Investigate Angelo Quinto's Death in Antioch Police Custody". NBC Bay Area. September 7, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2023. The autopsy performed on behalf of Quinto's family said Quinto died from asphyxiation, which Burris said "was not given due consideration."
  14. Villalon, Debora (June 23, 2021). "Demand for answers in the death of Angelo Quinto at Antioch police HQ rally". KTVU. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  15. Valentine, Brittany (October 5, 2021). "Governor Gavin Newsom honors slain Filipino man in signing eight police reform bills into law". Al Día. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
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