Jose Cruz, aged 57, died on February 2, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. His death was the result of an in-custody incident involving the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). On June 15, 2014, Cruz was a resident at a sober living facility in the Sunland area of Los Angeles. On that day, he was observed by fellow residents to be in a highly agitated state, screaming and hitting himself. It was reported that Cruz had been awake for five days and was under the influence of methamphetamine.
The situation escalated when Cruz began running around the backyard, flailing his arms and screaming as if in pain. One of the residents, Francisco H., attempted to restrain Cruz by putting him in a bear hug to calm him down. Another resident, Robin L., called 9-1-1 for assistance.
LAPD Officers Evan Urias and Erika Avila responded to the call. Upon arrival, they found Cruz in the backyard, still in a state of distress. The officers attempted to detain Cruz, who resisted their efforts. During the struggle, Cruz continued to exhibit signs of extreme agitation and was eventually subdued by the officers. Shortly after being restrained, Cruz became unresponsive. Despite efforts to revive him, Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office conducted a thorough review of the incident and concluded that the officers had applied lawful force in detaining Cruz and were not criminally liable for his death.
The investigation into Cruz's death revealed that he had a history of substance abuse and mental health issues, which likely contributed to his erratic behavior on the day of the incident. The autopsy report indicated that Cruz's death was caused by a combination of methamphetamine intoxication and the physical stress of the struggle with the officers. The case was reviewed by the Justice System Integrity Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the officers involved. The findings were based on reports prepared by the LAPD Force Investigation Division and did not consider the compelled statements of the officers.
No arrests were made in connection with Cruz's death, and there were no suspects or charges filed. The incident did not result in any litigation or lawsuits against the officers or the LAPD. The case was closed following the District Attorney’s conclusion that the officers' actions were justified under the circumstances. The in-custody death of Jose Cruz highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement when dealing with individuals experiencing severe mental health crises and the complexities involved in determining the appropriate use of force in such situations.
