Earl McNeil

Less-than-lethal force

Earl McNeil called the National City Police Department dispatch line from outside the station at 5:28 a.m. and said he wanted to turn himself in for a warrant. Two police officers met McNeil in front of the station, where he was handcuffed. At the time of his arrest, McNeil told police he was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts and was high on drugs. After finding methamphetamine and a knife on McNeil, officers restrained him using a WRAP device in an upright, seated position with his hands cuffed behind his back. Officers also placed a protective mesh sock over McNeil's head to prevent him from spitting. At 7:04 a.m. McNeil was transported to the San Diego Central Jail, where a second protective mesh sock was added over his face, the WRAP restraint was released and a jail nurse performed an examination. The jail nurse referred McNeil for a full medical evaluation and he was transported by ambulance to an emergency department at 7:37 a.m. McNeil was dead when he arrived at the emergency department. His family was awarded a $300,000 settlement.