By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the full 23-page death investigation summary into the death of 37-year-old Bryan Bostic.
The report was released June 25 in response to a California Public Records Act request. The release came with certain disclosures that refer to two government codes that “allow for the withholding of records when the public interest served by nondisclosure clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure, and exempts personnel, medical, or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
Bostic died in the custody of the Inglewood Police Department following a traffic stop March 10 at an Inglewood intersection.
Neither Mayor James Butts nor Police Chief Mark Fronterotta have disclosed why Bostic was stopped. The death investigation summary includes a timeline of events, the toxicology report, a narrative of events from the department and the medical examiner’s office, along with Bostic’s cause and manner of death.
According to the public information officer, the Department of Medical Examiner was notified of the death at 7:30 a.m. March 11 and arrived at the scene at 9:21 a.m.
The narrative provided by Inglewood detectives to investigators from the Medical Examiner’s office occurred the day after Bostic’s death and before the video taken by passersby of the traffic stop was released to the public the following month.
The report includes narratives from both the Inglewood Police Department and the investigator with the Medical Examiner’s Office, which provide conflicting accounts of why Bostic was pulled over.
Bostic’s death is being investigated as an “accident versus homicide due to possible drug overdose or choking on foreign body airway obstruction.” The report notes that Bostic had no known history of drug use.
According to Inglewood police detectives Jacqueline Sipaque and Luis Rodriguez, officers conducted the traffic stop when they spotted narcotics in the vehicle; however, the report states Bostic was pulled over for “unknown reasons.”
According to the report, “officers observed a white powdery substance in addition to a clear glass pipe with burnt residue on the floorboard and dashboard of the vehicle, and Bostic was requested to step out of the vehicle.
“An airway tube used by paramedics was removed from Bostic by unknown personnel and was not on scene during my investigation,” Detective Sipaque told the Medical Examiner’s Office. “A video of the physical altercation was captured by a local building surveillance camera, but it was unable to be shared with me due to poor quality.”
Sipaque also noted that Inglewood officers are not equipped with body-worn cameras.
A video has since been released showing a snippet of the physical altercation between Bostic and the officers.
The investigator with the medical examiner’s office wrote:, “I spoke to Det. Rodriguez and Det. Sipaque and they reported the following information, which is subject to change. Inglewood officers initiated a traffic stop on Bostic for unknown reasons.”
The timeline of events indicates Bostic died less than an hour after being pulled over at the intersection of Hillcrest Boulevard and Nutwood Street. The traffic stop was initiated at 9:25 p.m., with a physical altercation occurring between Bostic and officers in less than a minute that required the use of force.
A video has been released showing officers straddling Bostic as he lay on the ground and “pleading for his life.”
Two minutes later, Bostic was arrested and taken into custody.
“Officers requested paramedics to provide any needed medical attention to Bostic due to the use of force used,” the report said.
“It is unknown the level of force that was required to detain Bostic due to the officers involved not being available,” the report added. The use of force is still under investigation by the Inglewood Police Department.
Assembly Bill 2761 “requires agencies to post specific details (manner/means of death, decedent’s age, race, gender and the exact facility) on their websites within 10 days, and grants another 10 days for good-faith notification to next of kin. It also forces death certificates to indicate if the death occurred through the use of force by a peace officer.”
The city has not posted those details to its website.
The report continued: “At 9:31 p.m., Los Angeles County Fire Department Engine 171 responded and medically cleared Bostic. He was then transported from the scene of the traffic stop to the police station at 9:45 p.m.” The report does not provide a narrative of the events of the 14 minutes between Bostic being cleared and taken to the station.
Police officers arrived at the station at 9:50 p.m. with Bostic unresponsive in the back seat. Bostic was then taken out of the patrol vehicle by officers who began CPR. The same fire engine returned to the scene at 9:53 p.m. and continued life-saving measures that were unsuccessful. Bostic was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:15 p.m.
The report details that Bostic had injuries, including an abrasion on his cheek, a cut to his lip, and wounds consistent with being placed in handcuffs. The report noted that those injuries alone were not enough to be a contributing factor to his cause of death.
According to the Medical Examiner’s website, the law requires an immediate notification to the Department of Medical Examiner when a death falls under its jurisdiction. However, most deaths should be reported within one hour of pronouncement or discovery. Law enforcement personnel reporting a death should advise the Department of Medical Examiner if they desire a delayed response due to investigative concerns.
Inglewood police did not notify the medical examiner of Bostic’s death until 7:30 a.m. the next morning, almost nine hours after he was pronounced dead.
According to the Medical Examiner’s office, “Bostic’s shorts were removed and placed on the hood of the police vehicle by unknown personnel. The shorts were then removed and collected as evidence by Inglewood Police Department personnel prior to the medical examiner’s arrival.”
According to the medical examiner’s website, “once death is pronounced, no one should be permitted to further disturb the body or any related evidence. The clothing and personal property of the decedent fall within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner] and should not be further disturbed, discarded or released prior to the arrival of the [medical examiner].
“Bostic was located at the station intake area near Queen Street and Regent Street. There is a door on the south side of the area that further enters the station’s intake area.
The medical examiner also noted, “the vehicle Bostic was in was parked outside of the gated intake area.”
Neither of the Inglewood detectives mentioned reviewing video footage at the police station.
Multiple medical devices were noted, including an automated external defibrillator and a catheter in the right shin. There was also an airway support strap located without an airway adjunct located.
According to Mayor Butts, the city has provided the names of 16 members of the Inglewood Police Department to investigators with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
