Friday, May 19, 2023

Seven California highway patrol officers and a nurse were charged, and the state of California settled out of court for 24 million dollars inn order to not admit wrongdoing, for manslaughter due to the 2020 death of Edward Bronstein, 38. It's the biggest civil rights settlement in the state’s history

Bronstein was taken into custody following a traffic stop on suspicion of driving under the influence on 31 March 2020. He died at a highway patrol station less than two months before Floyd was killed by police in Minnesota as he, too, repeatedly told officers, “I can’t breathe.”

Six officers pinned him down by pressing their knees on his legs and neck while his blood was drawn, according to prosecutors.

George Gascón, the LA county district attorney, said while announcing the criminal charges that the highway patrol officers failed Bronstein, “and their failure was criminally negligent, causing his death”.

A nearly 18-minute video showing the officers’ treatment of Bronstein was released last year after a judge’s order in the family’s federal lawsuit alleging excessive force and a violation of civil rights.

While he is unresponsive, the nurse continues to draw blood and the officers keep pinning him down.

After they realize he may not have a pulse and does not appear to be breathing, they slap his face and say, “Edward, wake up.” More than 11 minutes after his last screams, they begin CPR.

Bronstein never regained consciousness and was later pronounced dead.


Annee Della Donna, an attorney for Bronstein’s family. “It is a huge message to every officer out there: Take your knees off our necks.”

the 6 CHP officers and the nurse were indicted on criminal (not civil) charges of involuntary manslaughter, their arraignment is set for next week and they have not yet entered a plea, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

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