Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón has charged a California Highway Patrol sergeant and six CHP officers with involuntary manslaughter in the 2020 death of Edward Bronstein, who had been pulled over for a suspected DUI.
Gascón said CHP Sgt. Michael Little, and CHP officers Dionisio Fiorella, Dusty Osmanson, Darren Parsons, Diego Romero, Justin Silva and Marciel Terry were all also charged with one felony count of assault under the color of authority.
“These officers had a legal duty to Mr. Bronstein,” Gascón told a news conference Wednesday. “He was under custody. We believe that they failed their duty, and their failure was criminally negligent, causing his death.”
The DA’s office also charged registered nurse Arbi Baghalian with involuntary manslaughter. Baghalian attended to Bronstein during the incident.
Gascón ended the news conference without taking questions.
Bronstein’s father, Edward Tapia, said of the charges, “I’m glad it came to this point where they get prosecuted so they can’t hurt nobody else.” The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the CHP.
‘He Still Needs Rescue, Bro’
On March 31, 2020, CHP officers took the 38-year-old Bronstein to their Altadena station after detaining him on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Last March, a judge hearing the family’s wrongful death lawsuit ordered the release of a video of what happened at the station.
In the video, officers lead a handcuffed Bronstein into what the lawyers say was the station’s maintenance garage. An officer is heard telling him they have a court order to obtain a blood sample, and asks him to consent, which he is reluctant to do. Seated on his knees, Bronstein keeps asking why he has to go through the procedure.
One officer says, “this is…
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