(L.A.) Diego Rios, 30, Died in a Hospital

Crime, Deaths cocaine, homicide, killed by police 0

Case Number: 2025-18661

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 30-year-old Latino male that occurred at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

The coroner’s office identified the man as Diego Rios of Rancho Cucamonga in San Bernardino County. He was born in L.A. County.

Height: 69 inches / Weight: 222 pounds / BMI: 33

Manner of Death: Homicide

Cause of Death A: Cardiopulmonary Arrest

Cause of Death B: Effects of Cocaine and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the Setting of Prone Physical Restraint

RIP DIEGO ALFONSO RIOS (February 3, 1995 – November 28, 2025)

Formal pronouncement of death was made at 4:37 p.m. on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

The decedent died following a traffic stop.

Claremont Police Department officer Joshua Orona and Corporal Benjamin Alba conducted the stop on his vehicle after receiving two calls at around 3:18 p.m. regarding a man acting erratically and possibly under the influence of narcotics in the area of Claremont Boulevard and Andrew Drive.

From the Department of Medical Examiner:

“Body camera footage of Mr. Rios’ encounter with law enforcement personnel was reviewed. It showed the use of a choke hold and prone physical restraint, including a knee on Mr. Rios’ right upper back, during his interaction with law enforcement personnel. The choke hold itself did not incapacitate Mr. Rios as he continued to move and react after it was released.

“At autopsy there were no traumatic injuries to the anterior or posterior neck. The knee on his right upper back did not cause any fractures or injuries to internal organs. Based on the video footage there does not appear to be an overt asphyxial event throughout the encounter. However, the temporal relationship between the prone physical restraint and cardiopulmonary arrest suggests that these two events were likely not simply coincidental. Based on the autopsy findings, toxicology testing, and body camera footage Mr. Rios’ death was multifactorial in etiology. Autopsy cannot determine the extent to which each individual factor played a role in death.

“The cause of death is cardiopulmonary arrest due to effects of cocaine and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the setting of prone physical restraint. The manner of death is homicide due to volitional human involvement regardless of the intent of any individuals’ actions.”

LASD is in charge of investigating this as a use-of-force incident.