A Northern California city has agreed to pay $7.5 million to the family of a 30-year-old man who died days after police restrained him in 2020, settling a wrongful death claim. The family filed the claim against the city of Antioch in February 2021, alleging that the man, Angelo Quinto, was undergoing a mental health episode and died days after police officers kneeled on the back of his neck for nearly five minutes to subdue him.
An internal examination by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office found no damage to Quinto’s neck area and saw no evidence of criminal offense by the Antioch police officers involved in Quinto’s death. The district attorney's office stated that conflicting medical opinions exist regarding the cause of death, but all witnesses agreed that no police officer applied pressure to Quinto’s neck during the incident.
The incident occurred on December 23, 2020, when Quinto was restrained at his family’s home in Antioch after his sister called the police due to his mental health episode. Quinto lost consciousness and was later pronounced dead at a hospital three days after the incident.
An autopsy revealed that Quinto’s cause of death was Excited Delirium Syndrome due to drug intoxication, psychiatric conditions, physical exertion, and cardiac arrest. The family's attorney mentioned that Quinto’s family played a significant role in the legislation banning excited delirium as a cause of death in California, which was eventually signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The $7.5 million settlement between the city and Quinto’s family was seen as a positive outcome from a tragic event. Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe acknowledged the need for change and emphasized the city’s efforts to implement reforms and address concerns seriously. The mayor expressed regret over past failures in leadership but highlighted the progress made in changing the culture within the police department and the city.
Quinto’s stepfather and sister expressed gratitude for the city’s response to their calls for change, noting that police body cameras are now in use in Antioch and a non-police mental health response team has been established to prevent similar incidents. They described Quinto as a multifaceted individual who had a positive impact on others’ lives and legacies.
