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SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE The family of Angelo Quinto held a press conference Thursday. |
The deadly knee-to-the-neck technique that killed George Floyd was used by police against a Filipino American and might have caused his death.
The family of a 30-year-old Angelo Quinto is filing a wrongful death suit against officers in Antioch, California who answered a 911 call Dec. 23. Quinto was rendered unconscious and bloody. He was pronounced dead at a hospital three days later.
“His biggest fear was death and his second biggest fear was the police,” said Quinto's sister, Isabella Collins, who made the 911 call when her brother was having a mental health episode. “That’s where my guilt comes from.”
His sister called 911 when she and her mother had trouble calming Quinto. When police arrived, his mother had him a bear hug to prevent him from injuring himself or others.
"One officer was holding his legs and the other officer had his knee or lower leg here," the mother told KTVU, indicating the back of her neck.
By the time paramedics arrived, Quinto wasn’t moving and blood was coming out of his mouth, say family members. When paramedics transferred him to their ambulance, Quinto was already unconscious.
APD told The Mercury News that the cause of death is still unknown and a toxicology report can take weeks.
"He said ‘Please don’t kill me. Please don’t kill me,’" Quinto’s mother, Cassandra Quinto-Collins told KTVU, describing her son's last words. "I was there. I was watching them. I trusted them. I thought they know what they’re doing."
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| ANGELO QUINTO |
Tactics used by Antioch police are in question here, says the family's attorney, John Burris.
“He was snatched from his mother’s arms, thrown to the ground. Police jumped on him and literally put a George Floyd-tight hold on the back of his neck,” said Burris during a Thursday press conference.
“He was snatched from his mother’s arms, thrown to the ground. Police jumped on him and literally put a George Floyd-tight hold on the back of his neck,” said Burris during a Thursday press conference.
Antioch police have released almost no information about the case. A press release about the incident wasn't released until Jan. 25 when the East Bay Times inquired about Quinto's death. It has been almost three months and the coroner still hasn't released a cause of death report. APD and the city have been silent except to say no violence was used. In a statement Thursday (Feb. 15), APD's Lt. John Fortner said the investigation is still open.
Antioch police went to Quinto-Collins's home in December when her son Angelo Quinto was having what she calls a mental health crisis. Two days before Christmas, the former Navy sailor was suffering an episode of paranoia, which he began having after a recent head injury, says his family.
Antioch police went to Quinto-Collins's home in December when her son Angelo Quinto was having what she calls a mental health crisis. Two days before Christmas, the former Navy sailor was suffering an episode of paranoia, which he began having after a recent head injury, says his family.
His sister called 911 when she and her mother had trouble calming Quinto. When police arrived, his mother had him a bear hug to prevent him from injuring himself or others.
"One officer was holding his legs and the other officer had his knee or lower leg here," the mother told KTVU, indicating the back of her neck.
By the time paramedics arrived, Quinto wasn’t moving and blood was coming out of his mouth, say family members. When paramedics transferred him to their ambulance, Quinto was already unconscious.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Edited 10:45 a.m., Feb. 21 for clarity.
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