x
Breaking News
More () »

Tucson police chief offers resignation after in-custody death

The man died of cardiac arrest while restrained in handcuffs, but police say no excessive force was involved in their death.

TUCSON, Arizona — The Tucson police chief offered his resignation to city leaders Wednesday after the death of a man while in custody.

Police Chief Chris Magnus announced his intent to resign from his position during a press conference about the in-custody death of a man, identified as Carlos Ingram-Lopez, in the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 21. 

Police responded to a call from Ingram-Lopez's grandmother around 1 a.m. Officers say she said her grandson was at the house inebriated.

Police body camera video showed when officers arrived they contacted Ingram-Lopez in the garage. He was acting in a "highly erratic manner," police said.

Ingram-Lopez was restrained in handcuffs on his stomach for about 12 minutes. The body camera video showed him moaning and breathing hard on the ground until he eventually fell silent. 

Officers performed CPR and used Narcan to try to revive him after he became unresponsive, investigators said.

Officers did not use any strikes, chokeholds, knees to the neck or weapons of any kind, according to Magnus. 

The medical examiner's office attributed Ingram-Lopez's death to sudden cardiac arrest with cocaine intoxication and an enlarged heart, police say. The cause of death has been ruled undetermined.

Watch the entire press conference and see the body camera video here.

Tucson police discuss in-custody death

WATCH LIVE: Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero discuss a man’s death that happened in police custody during an arrest on April 21. MORE: https://bit.ly/2Z8K1V1.

Posted by 12 News on Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Three officers involved in the incident resigned before the department completed its investigation. Magnus said the officers who quit would have been fired if they were still with the department when the investigation wrapped up.

“In this case, three officers did not live up to the high standards of the Tucson Police Department. They are no longer employed here,” he said. 

In a response to the online backlash, Magnus said it is "irresponsible and unfair" to conclude Ingram-Lopez died at the hands of police.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said she was unaware Chief Magnus had plans to resign. She said he was an "honest and great" chief of police.

On Thursday, Romero issued a statement saying she did not believe the chief should resign.

Tucson Police Department's announcement comes in the wake of weeks of protests across the country; names of the many people of color who have died unarmed at the hands of law enforcement became rallying cries for millions across the U.S. calling for criminal justice reform and an end to racism.

“The vast, vast majority of our officers do their jobs well and responsibly and are rightfully disturbed and dismayed by any statements to the contrary. I continue to have the utmost confidence in the men and women of our police department," Magnus' statement said.

You can read the full statement released Tuesday below, or follow this link

The case is still under investigation and has been passed to the FBI.

MORE STORIES:

Man arrested for defacing Confederate monument: 'I'm doing the moral thing'

Phoenix church leads 'White Silence is Violence' march

Protesters march to Arizona state Capitol to call for end to racial injustice

Before You Leave, Check This Out