(L.A.) Edward Bronstein, 38, Died in a Parking Lot
Case Number: 2020-02775
Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 38-year-old “White/Caucasian” male that occurred in a parking lot.
The coroner’s office has identified the man as Edward Bronstein.
Manner of Death: Undetermined
Cause of Death: Acute Methamphetamine Intoxication During Restraint by Law Enforcement
RIP EDWARD BRONSTEIN (September 14, 1981 – March 31, 2020)
The decedent died in police custody after screaming “I can’t breathe” as multiple officers restrained him while trying to take a blood sample.
Seven California Highway Patrol officers and a nurse were charged with involuntary manslaughter in early 2023 in connection with his death.
In May 2023, it was announced that California will pay a $24 million civil rights settlement to his family. Annee Della Donna and Eric Dubin, attorneys for Bronstein’s young children, said it’s the largest civil rights settlement of its kind by the state of California, and the second largest nationally since the city of Minneapolis paid $27 million in the George Floyd case.
Bronstein was taken into custody following a traffic stop on suspicion of driving under the influence on March 31, 2020. He died at a highway patrol station in Altadena, north of downtown Los Angeles, less than two months before Floyd was killed by police in Minnesota as he, too, repeatedly told officers, “I can’t breathe.”
When announcing the criminal charges in March, LA County District Attorney George Gascón said the highway patrol officers failed Bronstein, “and their failure was criminally negligent, causing his death.”
A nearly 18-minute video showing the officers’ treatment of Bronstein was released in 2022 following a judge’s order in the family’s federal lawsuit alleging excessive force and a violation of civil rights.
Family members have said Bronstein was terrified of needles and they believe that’s why he was reluctant to comply with the CHP initially as they tried to take a blood sample.
The video, filmed by the sergeant, shows several officers forcing a handcuffed Bronstein to a mat on the floor as he shouts, “I’ll do it willingly! I’ll do it willingly, I promise!”
He continues screaming as six officers hold him face-down — the lawsuit alleged they put their knees on his back — and pleads for help.
“It’s too late,” one officer replies. “Stop yelling!” another shouts.
“I can’t breathe!” and “I can’t!” Bronstein cries, and an officer responds, “Just relax and stop resisting!”
But Bronstein’s voice gets softer and he then falls silent. While he is unresponsive, the nurse continues to draw blood and the officers keep pinning him down.
After they realize he may not have a pulse and does not appear to be breathing, they slap his face and say, “Edward, wake up.” More than 11 minutes after his last screams, they begin CPR.
Bronstein never regained consciousness and was later pronounced dead.
The coroner-investigator assigned to this case was Brenda Shafer, the deputy medical examiner Dr. Zuhha Ashraf.