The family of a Filipino American man that accused an officer of killing their son after placing a knee on the back of his neck will receive a $7.5 million settlement, reports CNN.
The city of Antioch east of San Francisco agreed to the deal after being sued by the family of Angelo Quinto who had suffered a mental health crisis in December 2020.
Police arrived after being called by the sister who feared her brother might hurt her mother. The family’s 3-year-fight with the city has resulted in many reforms.
“Police body cams are now a reality in Antioch,” Quinto’s stepfather Robert Collins said to Local News Matters. “Many of the things began here in Antioch. … We’ve been able to move forward with positive changes that I think we can all agree on.”
The state also passed a law banning the use of “excited delirium” or “agitated delirium” as a cause of death when someone dies in police custody. The coroner which is part of the county sheriff’s department ruled Quinto died from “excited delirium” and not from any actions of a police officer.
A pathologist under cross examination would later change the cause of death to asphyxiation.
Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez supported the settlement.
“Years of, frankly, failed leadership brought us to this moment, but I am happy to say that we’ve done an enormous job in terms of changing the culture, not just at the police department, but at the city as well, and taking these concerns serious,” the mayor said. “We’ve done a lot in terms of establishing reforms that I think build a safer community for every single segment of our city and to ensure that people do have justice when we are wrong.”
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