Full Breakdown
Los Angeles Police Department Releases Video of Two Custody Deaths, Prompting Call for Independent Review
8/30/2026, 9:27:34 PM
Incident Overview
On July 13, 58-year-old Jose Carlos Hoyos-Munoz was arrested after a domestic incident in Chatsworth that left his mother and a relative with minor knife injuries. After an eight-hour standoff and exposure to tear-gas, he was taken to a hospital, released, and booked at the Van Nuys Regional Jail.
On July 15, while handcuffed in a holding cell, Hoyos-Munoz was repeatedly restrained, struck, and placed in a hooded restraint chair. Officers later found him unconscious and not breathing; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second incident captured on video occurred on July 29 when 33-year-old Alejandro Luis Garcia advanced toward officers on Normandie Avenue wielding a baseball bat. Officers ordered him to drop the weapon, fired, and performed CPR before he died at a hospital.
Both videos were released by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
Background & Context
The deaths followed encounters described by police as mental-health crises. Hoyos-Munoz’s arrest stemmed from a reported assault with a deadly weapon; his jail behavior was labeled “combative” and “uncooperative.” Garcia was reported to have shattered vehicle windows with a bat and threatened bystanders.
Data & Statistics
- Jose Carlos Hoyos-Munoz – age 58; arrested July 13; died July 15 in custody.
- Alejandro Luis Garcia – age 33; shot July 29; died after on-scene CPR.
- At least five officers were documented pinning Hoyos-Munoz, with one officer placing a knee on his shoulder blades.
- Three detention-facility guards sustained minor injuries during the July 15 incident.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Karen Bass called the footage “incredibly difficult to watch” and announced an executive order for an independent evaluation of officer-involved deaths and severe injuries, especially those involving mental-health crises.
LAPD spokesperson Capt. Michael Bland said officers used “non-categorial use of force” to restrain Hoyos-Munoz, including handcuffing, a spit hood, and a restraint chair, and performed a 20-minute wellness check before finding him unresponsive. Regarding Garcia, Bland said officers responded to a 911 call, ordered him to drop the bat, and opened fire when he continued toward them.
The state’s In-Custody Death Review (ICDR) Division will conduct a separate investigation of Hoyos-Munoz’s death. The Medical Examiner has not yet released a cause or manner of death.
Verbatim Quote
- “Decades of disinvestment in community-based mental and behavioral health services have left too many Angelenos without access to timely and appropriate care.” — Karen Bass, Los Angeles mayor
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Video of Garcia’s shooting appears to contradict an LAPD release that said he was swinging the bat; the footage shows him advancing without a clear swing.
- The Medical Examiner’s determination of Hoyos-Munoz’s cause of death remains pending, leaving the exact role of the restraint actions unconfirmed.
What’s Next
Mayor Bass’s executive order mandates an independent review of LAPD policies, training, supervision, and accountability systems related to officer-involved deaths and severe injuries, as well as mental-health support for officers after critical incidents. The ICDR investigation of Hoyos-Munoz’s death continues, and the Medical Examiner’s final report is awaited.
