In March 2020, several officers were involved in the in-custody death of Damien Alvarado. Officers kneeled on Alvarado’s back for nearly three minutes, despite his repeated statements that he couldn’t breathe. The Pima County Medical Examiner ruled the death accidental, citing sudden cardiac arrest exacerbated by restraint and methamphetamine intoxication. A Superior Court judge denied the officers qualified immunity, allowing a lawsuit filed by Alvarado’s mother to proceed. The case highlighted concerns about the use of prone restraint and the department’s handling of in-custody deaths.([azpm.org](https://www.azpm.org/p/headlines/2025/3/13/224038-judge-denies-qualified-immunity-for-tucson-officers-in-2020-in-custody-death/?utm_source=openai))
[Return to blog post](https://watchaudits.com/unnamed-officers-tucson-police-department/)
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