Man died after being in Modesto police custody. Now, the death is under investigation
A 33-year-old Mexico native died while in Modesto Police custody on Sept. 27 after allegedly tightly twisting a seat belt around his neck while being detained in the backseat of a squad car, according to a department press release.
A little after 4 p.m., police were dispatched to a residential neighborhood near Briggsmore Avenue and Claus Road after receiving a call of an unknown man in a resident’s backyard, authorities said.
The caller reported the man, later identified as Emilio Villa Mora, had tried to enter the home through the patio sliding door; other callers reported a man had tried to steal a vehicle with a 15-year-old male in the passenger seat.
When officers arrived, they found Mora, who ran away when officers tried to stop him. After refusing to obey commands, Mora was tased but it was ineffective and officers chased Mora into the yard of a nearby home where he was tackled and taken into custody.
Mora was placed in the back of a patrol car, where he was provided water and evaluated by medics, according to the police.
Mora denied medical aid as witnesses identified him as the suspect.
While in the backseat with a seat belt on, officers said, Mora did “nothing that suggested that he was in distress or doing anything out of the ordinary” but after a short time, officers opened the door and found Mora’s seat belt unbuckled and the suspect was slumped over.
Officers said they saw the adjacent seat’s seat belt around his neck and immediately started CPR until medics arrived. He was taken to a nearby hospital with a faint pulse.
The department was notified on Thursday that Mora died. His autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
Police said the initial investigation suggests Mora’s actions were either mental health or drug induced as Mora made multiple 9-1-1 calls on the day he was detained, reporting that he was chased by members of the Cartel and his safety was in jeopardy.
The investigation also led police to believe that “Mora was able to unbuckle his seat belt and intentionally entangle himself in the patrol vehicle’s seat belt leading to his asphyxiation.”
The press release said the department “anticipates” releasing officer camera footage from the incident and the investigation remains ongoing.
This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 8:04 AM.
