Seven California traffic officers and a nurse were charged Thursday with the 2020 manslaughter of a man who yelled “I can’t breathe” as officers held him down in an attempt to take a blood sample.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced charges in the death of Edward Bronstein, which he said was caused by “acute methamphetamine intoxication during containment.”
Edward Bronstein, 38, was pulled over by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers on March 31, 2020, after a smuggling operation, and died less than two months before George Floyd was killed by the police officer in Minneapolis, who also repeatedly told officers “I can’t breathe.”
George Gascón also said that the police “had a legal duty” to Edward Bronstein, who was in their custody and defended that the agents “failed in their duty and the breach was criminally negligent, causing death.”
In a statement, CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee offered his condolences to the Bronstein family, saying that CHP’s mission is to put the safety of all Californians first.
“I am saddened that Bronstein died while in our custody and care. Any death in custody is a tragedy that we take very seriously,” he said.
By order of a judge, a nearly 18-minute video was released last year showing the police’s treatment of Edward Bronstein.
The six CHP officers and a sergeant charged in his death face one charge of manslaughter, each of whom could be sentenced to four years in prison.
The nurse is also charged with manslaughter, but a hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Source: TSF
