FATAL Restraint Sparks Outrage in San Diego
San Diego police officers faced no consequences after kneeling on a man for eight minutes until he died, despite a medical examiner ruling the death a homicide—raising alarming questions about accountability when restraint tactics turn deadly.
Story Snapshot
- Gabriel Garza, 40, died after SDPD officers knelt on his back for nearly eight minutes outside a Gaslamp Quarter bar in January 2025
- Medical examiner classified the death as homicide, yet officers were cleared of wrongdoing months later
- Family lawsuit alleges civil rights violations and wrongful death, while SDPD withholds body camera footage citing ongoing investigation
- Case echoes George Floyd’s death, spotlighting persistent use of dangerous prone restraints despite documented risks
Fatal Restraint Outside San Diego Bar
Gabriel Garza died on a San Diego street in January 2025 after officers restrained him prone for nearly eight minutes, surveillance video reveals. The 40-year-old had been ejected from Star Bar in the Gaslamp Quarter after acting erratically. Bar security held him on his back outside for approximately 25 minutes before police arrived. Officers then rolled Garza onto his stomach, handcuffed him, and maintained pressure—one kneeling on his back, another holding his legs—until he stopped moving. Firefighters arrived and performed chest compressions, but Garza was pronounced dead at the scene.
Homicide Ruling Yet Officers Cleared
The San Diego County Medical Examiner classified Garza’s death as a homicide, indicating the restraint contributed to his death. Despite this determination, authorities cleared the officers of wrongdoing, fueling outrage from Garza’s family and their attorney. The family filed a federal lawsuit alleging civil rights violations and wrongful death against the city and the officers involved. Carlos Garza, the victim’s brother, demanded justice and transparency, stating his brother’s death should lead to change so no other family endures similar tragedy. The stark disconnect between a homicide classification and officer exoneration raises serious concerns about accountability when police tactics prove fatal.
Transparency Blocked as Investigation Stalls
SDPD has refused to release body camera footage from the incident, citing concerns it would hinder the ongoing investigation. The family submitted formal public records requests for the video, but the city denied access. This lack of transparency mirrors troubling patterns where agencies withhold evidence in controversial cases, preventing public scrutiny of officer conduct. Family attorney Lauren Milano emphasized that prone restraint dangers are well documented, particularly after George Floyd’s 2020 death under similar circumstances. The City Attorney’s Office declined comment due to pending litigation, while SDPD offered no response to media inquiries, leaving critical questions unanswered about training and policy compliance.
Pattern of Deadly Restraints Continues
Milano expressed disbelief that fatal prone restraints persist despite widespread awareness of their risks following Floyd’s death and other high-profile cases. Garza’s extended subdual—25 minutes by security, then eight more by police with knee pressure—exemplifies the compounding dangers when multiple parties apply prolonged force. The lawsuit argues officers ignored established dangers of positional asphyxia, where prone positioning restricts breathing, especially when weight is applied to the back. For conservatives who prioritize accountability and rule of law, this case presents a troubling scenario: a homicide ruling contradicted by cleared officers, suggesting potential failures in oversight mechanisms designed to ensure lawful conduct and protect citizens from excessive force.
The Garza family continues pressing for policy reforms to prevent similar deaths, arguing transparency and accountability are essential to restoring public trust. As litigation proceeds, the case spotlights tensions between law enforcement authority and constitutional protections against unreasonable force, demanding answers about how a homicide determination resulted in no consequences for those involved in the fatal restraint.
Sources:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/district-attorney-finds-no-wrongdoing-221549667