Family seeks answers after man dies in Inglewood police custody following traffic stop

The family of a 37-year-old man who died after being taken into custody by Inglewood police is demanding answers about what happened during a traffic stop that preceded his death.

Bryan Bostic died March 10 after being detained by officers, according to city officials. Family members say they want to know why he was pulled over, what happened during the stop and how he died.

City officials say the cause of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner and that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the circumstances leading up to Bostic’s death.

Relatives say Bostic had been driving to Gardena Memorial Hospital to visit his girlfriend when he was pulled over at the corner of Hillcrest and Nutwood around 9:30 p.m., according to a cousin who spoke with NBC4.

Photos taken from inside a restaurant across the street show part of the scene during the stop. Inglewood Mayor James Butts said officers reported that after contacting Bostic, they believed he attempted to conceal something.

“After they made contact with Mr. Bostic, they made an observation on what they believed was an attempt to hide something,” Butts said.

The mayor said a struggle followed, additional officers arrived and Bostic was placed under arrest. “At that time, he was sweating profusely and he had a contusion on his cheek,” Butts said.

“They called paramedics to examine him. Paramedics came, examined him, cleared him to be taken to the station and booked.”

Butts said officers later noticed Bostic was not breathing when they arrived at the police station and began CPR. Paramedics responded and later pronounced him dead.

Bostic’s aunt, Marie Darden, said she recently spoke with the mayor about the incident.

“He said, ‘I can assure you that Brian was alive in back of the police car before they got to the police station,’” Darden said.

Darden said she questioned that assurance.

“I told him, ‘Crap. That’s bull crap,’” she said. “It should be body cams. How could you assure me that if you weren’t there at the crime?”

Family members have also raised concerns about the Inglewood Police Department not using body-worn cameras.

Butts said the family’s grief and anger are understandable but rejected claims that the death reflects misconduct by the department.

“Look, I understand the family’s grief and anger, but that’s absolutely untrue as it relates to the Inglewood Police Department,” he said.

Butts added that the cause of death has not yet been determined.

“There’s no evidence to show one way or another what the cause of death was,” he said.

The mayor said the answers will likely come from the medical examiner’s findings and the district attorney’s investigation, adding that cameras would not change that outcome.

Still, he said the city is in the process of overhauling its police software system to include integrated body-worn cameras that can begin recording automatically.

Meanwhile, Bostic’s family is asking anyone in the community who may have recorded video of the traffic stop to share it with them.

“We don’t know what happened,” said Talia, one of Bostic’s relatives. “We’re so heartbroken. It’s unimaginable, really.”

Family members described Bostic as someone who uplifted those around him.

“He spoke life into you,” Talia said. “If you were having a bad day, he could lift you up. Brian was truly something special, which is why we’re all out here today.”

Butts said three reviews are now underway: an internal investigation by the Inglewood Police Department, an investigation by the district attorney’s office and an autopsy by the Los Angeles County medical examiner.

He said he is sorry for the family’s loss and hopes they receive answers in time.