Jacobo Juarez Cedillo death: Daughter speaks out on verdict holding city, LAPD responsible

LOS ANGELES - The daughter of Jacobo Juarez Cedillo, who died in 2019 after he was detained by officers with the Los Angeles Police Department in Van Nuys, discussed on Monday the jury's unanimous verdict holding those officers and the city of Los Angeles responsible for his death, which they alleged was due to excessive force. 

Cedillo's daughter, Nicole Juarez Zelaya, filed the lawsuit against the LAPD and the city, claiming the officers restricted her father's breathing as they handcuffed him and held him on the ground using their body weight for nearly five minutes "even though he was cooperative and had committed no crime."

"My dad was a great man. He loved me. He cared for me," Nicole Zelaya said of her father.

"Then, after he went unconscious, he was awakened again only to be put immediately back face down with the same two officers putting their entire body weight on his back until he ultimately died," his family said in a statement through their lawyer, Dale K. Galipo.

Jacobo Juarez Cedillo

Shortly afterward, Cedillo became unresponsive. He never recovered and died at an area hospital five days later.

"The jury specifically returned a finding that the City of Los Angeles failed to train its police officers with respect to the risks of positional and restraint asphyxia, which led to the death of Jacobo," the family's lawyer added.

During a press conference Monday, Zelaya recalled memories of her father and what the verdict meant to her. 

"I'm thankful that they were able to see how clearly that what happened was wrong. My dad was stripped from dignity when he was killed and it means a lot to me that the jurors were able to see that and stand with us and also believe that the LAPD needs to be held responsible and accountable for what they've done," Nicole Zelaya said. "Nothing brings my dad back but I think it's really important that the police officers are held accountable."

Zelaya thanked the jury for reaching the $13.5 million verdict. Galipo issued a similar sentiment.

"I’m very pleased with the jury verdict finding that the use of force and restraint was excessive and caused the death and awarding fair damages for his pre-death pain and suffering and loss of life," Galipo said. "Further, the finding that the LAPD had inadequate training on restraint and positional asphyxia is very significant.  It is my hope in bringing these cases to trial and getting substantial jury verdicts that law enforcement agencies will take notice and better train their officers and reduce the incidents of excessive force and unnecessary deaths."

Galipo says the police officers are still working and LAPD found the incident to be within policy even if the federal jury saw things differently.

The LAPD has not commented on the case or announced if the department would appeal the ruling.