Disturbing new video exhibits the second a person climbed right into a squad automotive parked at a Southern California police station, the place he was later discovered lifeless.
The person, recognized by police as 37-year-old Eric Valencia, was found by a automobile upkeep employee within the again seat of an out‑of‑service patrol automobile parked in entrance of the Azusa Police Division station in downtown Azusa.
Police station safety digital camera footage shared by Azusa police exhibits Valencia getting right into a marked and unlocked squad automotive parked straight in entrance of the division’s headquarters round lunchtime final Monday.
That’s the final anybody noticed of Valencia till three days later, when a person employed by the division to wash the automobile found his corpse in unmoved automotive.
His reason for loss of life stays a thriller.
Chief of Police Rocky Wenrick stated the division is investigating what occurred to Valencia, why the automotive was left unlocked, and the way come no one observed him contained in the automotive — though it was parked in entrance of the police station all week lengthy.
“We are going to proceed to comply with the details wherever it takes us,” Wenrick stated at a press convention given on the police station Monday to debate the case.
Asuza police arrested Valencia on March 20 on suspicion of driving below the affect and little one endangerment, and launched him from custody three days later, on final Monday, simply moments earlier than he entered the squad automotive, stated Wenrick.
Valencia had no indicators of trauma to his physique on the time of his arrest and had been recurrently checked on by police whereas in custody, based on Wenrick. Police supplied Valencia with further meals upon his launch, stated Wenrick.
Valencia’s household reported him lacking simply hours earlier than his physique was found, stated Wenrick.
Video launched by Azusa police Monday exhibits Valencia speaking and shifting usually as exited the police station and walked onto the sidewalk in entrance of the station. He passes a pair of squad vehicles earlier than doubling again and letting himself into one within the video.
Wenrick stated the automobile was awaiting upkeep, which is a typical apply as patrol models are recurrently cycled out and in of service and new autos await tools set up.
“It ought to have been secured,” stated Wenrick.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner will decide Valencia’s reason for loss of life, which remained unknown Monday.
Wenrick stated Valencia had a working cellular phone with him when he entered the squad automotive. He stated a preliminary take a look at confirmed Valencia’s blood alcohol stage was at twice the authorized restrict on the time of his arrest.
The Azusa Police Division retained an outdoor investigative agency to conduct an unbiased investigation into the whole incident, Wenrick stated, together with figuring out why the automobile was not locked.
Wenrick didn’t reply questions on the incident, citing an ongoing investigation. He wouldn’t say if any officers can be disciplined over the matter.
Members of Valencia’s household gathered in entrance of the police station on Monday with a shrine to their lifeless relative positioned close to the parking spot the place his physique was found.
Carlos Velasquez, a cousin of Valencia’s, stated the lifeless man was a father of two who lived not removed from the police station. He was in good spirits and powerful well being earlier than he died, stated Velasquez.
Valencia’s household is shocked and heartbroken by his passing, stated Velasquez, and so they need police to inform them how he ended up lifeless in a squad automotive parked proper in entrance of the police station.
“We would like solutions,” stated Velasquez. “We didn’t hear from him in any respect.”
