Family Demands Justice After Suspect's Death During Pittsburg Arrest
PITTSBURG (CBS SF) -- The family of a suspect who died Tuesday after Pittsburg police arrested him is demanding answers from authorities Wednesday about the fatal encounter.
The incident started at around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon when officers tried to stop a vehicle but the driver, later identified as 32-year-old Humberto Martinez, led them on a short pursuit and then fled into a home in the 4200 block of Hillview Drive, police said.
Surveillance video from across Hillview Drive shows Martinez jumping out of a car and running into a garage.
Two police officers are seen rushing in after him.
Officers followed him inside and a struggle ensued, during which Martinez allegedly bit an officer's hand, breaking the skin. At some point, an officer deployed a Taser stun gun at him but it was ineffective, according to police.
Martinez was eventually handcuffed by officers, but moments later became unresponsive and they performed CPR on him.
Police said he was resuscitated and taken to a hospital, but died there.
Family members told CBS SF that was not true and say Beto, as they call him should still be alive.
"I know in my heart they killed him," said one relative, who declined to be identified. "They murdered him right there in my living room, on my floor."
"They are lying. They say he died in the hospital," said Martinez's mother, who also declined to be identified.
"I could hear them saying 'Come on, man! Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!'" remembered Martinez's friend
Sonya Serna. "The ambulance wasn't even here yet."
The relative who claimed Martinez died during the struggle with police at his home told CBS SF officers moved the suspect from the garage into the living room to conceal their actions.
"There was no reason for them to drag him inside the house where we couldn't see them beating him up," the relative said. "I know they were Tasering him more than what they say."
While police maintain Martinez was resuscitated after they performed CPR and didn't die until an hour he was taken to the hospital by ambulance, his family doesn't believe it.
"He was dead when they brought him out here," said the family member.
Police say Martinez has an extensive criminal history including terrorist threats, drugs and illegal weapons charges. He was on active probation the time of his arrest.
The officers involved in the incident had body cameras on and police will be reviewing that video during the internal investigation into the death. The officers have been placed on paid administrative leave.
