In a case that drew comparisons to the killing of George Floyd, three officers from the Alameda Police Department have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Mario Gonzalez. The charges were announced on Thursday, nearly three years after the incident took place on April 19, 2021.

Initially, no charges were filed against the officers involved in Gonzalez's death. The initial autopsy report cited multiple factors, including the "physiological stress of altercation and restraint," methamphetamine toxicity, morbid obesity, and alcoholism. However, a second autopsy conducted by the Alameda County district attorney's Public Accountability Unit determined that Gonzalez had died due to "restraint asphyxiation."

The case was reopened by District Attorney Pamela Price, who had campaigned on the promise of reinvestigating the incident. Previous District Attorney Nancy O'Malley had closed the inquiry without pressing charges. It was under Price's leadership that the charges of involuntary manslaughter were brought against the officers: Eric McKinley, James Fisher, and Cameron Leahy.

Body camera footage released by the Police Department showed the officers interacting with Gonzalez in a local park. The video depicted Gonzalez struggling to answer their questions and appearing dazed. The officers attempted to handcuff him after he failed to produce identification, and they deemed him to be resisting. They then pushed him to the ground, where he was held facedown in wood chips.

During the encounter, Gonzalez can be heard saying, "I didn't do nothing, OK?" before losing consciousness. His family members have compared his death to the killing of George Floyd, which sparked widespread protests against police brutality in 2020.

One officer can be seen placing a knee on Gonzalez's back and keeping it there for at least four minutes, despite Gonzalez gasping for air. Eventually, an officer noted that Gonzalez was becoming unresponsive, and CPR was performed. Unfortunately, Gonzalez passed away at the hospital later that day.

The initial statement from the Alameda Police Department did not mention Gonzalez being restrained, only stating that a physical altercation ensued during the officers' attempt to detain him, leading to a medical emergency. However, Gonzalez's family believed that the police were responsible for his death.

Alison Berry Wilkinson, the lawyer who initially represented all three officers during the investigation but now solely represents Leahy, has labeled the case a "blatantly political prosecution." Wilkinson maintained that the officers' actions were reasonable and necessary, attributing Gonzalez's tragic death to drug toxicity rather than criminal misconduct.

All three officers involved are still active in law enforcement and will voluntarily surrender themselves in relation to the charges, according to Wilkinson.

This case highlights ongoing concerns about police use of force and accountability, echoing the calls for justice and reform that continue to resonate across the country.