Jose Cruz, 57, died on February 2, 2018, in Los Angeles after an in-custody incident involving the Los Angeles Police Department. The immediate events date to June 15, 2014, when Cruz, then a resident at a Sunland sober living facility, was observed by fellow residents to be highly agitated, screaming, hitting himself and reportedly awake for five days while under the influence of methamphetamine. He ran around the backyard flailing his arms and appeared to be in pain; one resident, Francisco H., tried to restrain him with a bear hug while another resident, Robin L., called 9-1-1.

Officers Evan Urias and Erika Avila responded and attempted to detain Cruz. He resisted, was subdued during a struggle, and soon became unresponsive; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The autopsy attributed his death to a combination of methamphetamine intoxication and the physical stress of the struggle. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division reviewed the case, concluded the officers applied lawful force and were not criminally liable, and no arrests or charges were filed.

Did anyone at the sober living facility notice prior episodes like this or have additional information about Cruz’s behavior that day?