Santiago (Chago) Villanueva

How they died

Less-than-lethal force

Villanueva's garment factory co-workers called police for help with his epileptic seizure. They arrived and found him uncooperative and combative. Wrestled to the ground and handcuffed by four officers, witnesses described police shouting for him to speak English, and taking his foaming at the mouth as a sign of drug use. He died of "mechanical asphyxia following physical restraint". The four were charged with manslaughter.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Santiago (Chago) Villanueva, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources