Two Alameda police officers no longer face charges in connection with the death of 26-year-old Mario Gonzalez after a judge's ruling Monday.
In the ruling, an Alameda County Superior Court judge agreed with a defense motion to drop involuntary manslaughter charges against Alameda police officers James Fisher and Cameron Leahy because it was determined the charges were not properly filed within the three-year statute of limitations.
Charges against Officer Eric McKinley remain in place. McKinley's statute of limitations was extended because he was out of the country during some of that three-year period.
Gonzalez died in April 2021 after the three Alameda officers pinned him to the ground during a scuffle. Gonzalez’s mother Edith Arenales told Telemundo 48 that what happened in court Monday is an injustice and that she will not stop fighting to see those officers punished.
"They played with my feelings, they played with the faith I had," Arenales said. "The decision they made does not seem like they are respecting the lives of human beings."
Fisher's attorney, Julia Fox, released the following statement Tuesday morning:
"Mr. Fisher is an exemplary officer who fell victim to Pam Price’s desperate attempt to salvage her disastrous time in the DA’s Office. We have always been confident that Mr. Fisher and his co-defendants would be acquitted as a result of a baseless filing rooted in a lack of prosecutorial integrity. Ultimately, Mr. Fisher was vindicated as a result of more shoddy work by Pam Price and her staff."
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The Alameda County District Attorney's Office also released a statement Tuesday:
"It is unfortunate that all three defendants will not be held accountable for their alleged roles in the death of Mario Gonzalez. It is important to note that the court’s decision was not made based on any lack of merit. Our prosecutors will proceed to file an amended complaint against Officer McKinley."
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McKinley, the third officer who still faces charges, is expected back in court Friday.
