The sister of a Nanakuli man who suffocated while being restrained by police is suing the city and the police officers involved for $10 million.
Tassa Torres filed her lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court, alleging negligence, excessive force and unlawful imprisonment.
Aaron Torres:
His death is
classified as a
homicide
Her younger brother, Aaron Torres, 37, died Feb. 20. Family members said police officers handcuffed Torres and threw him to the ground. Then one sat on his back, another on his neck and shoulders, and a third officer on his legs until Torres stopped breathing.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said Torres suffocated, and classified the death a homicide. The office also said it found cocaine in Torres’ blood and that a contributing cause and significant condition in the death was Torres’ history of chronic cocaine abuse.
The city prosecuting attorney’s office is not pursuing criminal charges against the officers, spokesman Dave Koga said.
The Police Department said one of the officers involved is a nine-year veteran, the second is an 11-year veteran and the third, a sergeant, is a 22-year veteran.
Tassa Torres is claiming she suffered emotional distress witnessing the officers suffocate her brother while ignoring her and other family members’ protests and calls for them to stop.
Police went to Aaron Torres’ home after Torres himself called 911.
When the officers arrived they found Torres to be mentally unstable and possibly under the influence of drugs, police said.
They said Torres lost consciousness as the officers tried to restrain him from harming himself or others.
