pexels-pixabay-532001Body-camera Footage Released Following The Death of Gustavo Martinez In Anaheim Police Department Custody

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA (August 14, 2024) – A man identified as Gustavo Martinez has tragically died after being placed in Anaheim Police Department custody.

Orange County officials are saying that the incident took place in June. Officers were called to the 800 block of North Harbor Boulevard after getting reports of a naked man acting strange.

Officers encountered Gustavo Martinez and placed him under arrest. He was taken to the Anaheim Police Department Attention Facility for booking.

The police said that the man experienced some type of medical emergency while in custody. Despite life-saving measures, he was later pronounced dead.

According to a coroner report, Gustavo Martinez tested positive for amphetamines. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For Anaheim Police Department In Custody Deaths

Drug overdoses remain one of the leading causes of in-custody deaths. Methamphetamine and fentanyl can be particularly dangerous. According to the National Institutes of Health, “In 2020, more than 93,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, marking the largest one-year increase in overdose deaths ever recorded, according to provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This increase has largely been driven by rising overdoses involving synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl.” There are a number of signs that a person is going through a methamphetamine overdose.

  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • High body temperature
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Severe agitation
  • Seizures

When the police assume control of a person’s autonomy through arrest, they have a legal obligation to take care of the suspect. This includes providing them with medical care as fast as possible. When police officers fail to provide for the medical care of suspects, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any in-custody death.

  • Body-camera footage should be sought.
  • Medical records related to the death should be preserved.
  • An independent autopsy may need to be performed.
  • The actions of officers leading up to the death should be understood.

Many in-custody deaths are completely preventable. They tend to involve situations where police officers fail to act quickly when a suspect is in distress. There have been a number of situations where suspects have become unresponsive before officers bothered to help them. The family of any person who died in police custody may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.

Investigating Anaheim In Custody Deaths 

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Gustavo Martinez. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Do you need more information about an Anaheim police custody death? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to help you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and holding police departments accountable for their wrongful actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.

 

 

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