Family of man who died in Inglewood police custody takes legal steps

The family of a man who died during an arrest by Inglewood police officers has begun to take legal action against the city, they announced Monday.

Bryan Bostic was stopped by police last month in a confrontation captured on cellphone video. The video, recorded by bystanders, shows him struggling with officers just before he died.

“For his life to be taken in such a sudden and tragic way, it’s unacceptable, and we really need answers,” said Talia Castillo, Bostic’s aunt.

Castillo and Bostic’s other family members joined their attorney on Monday to file initial legal claims against the city of Inglewood in connection with the man’s death.

The new video shows Bostic face-down, on the ground with an officer straddling his back and another officer standing next to them holding what appears to be stun gun. More officers then arrive and pull Bostic’s hands behind his back.

It’s then that family attorney Denisse Gastelum says Bostic could be heard saying he couldn’t breathe, and paramedics were called. That part wasn’t recorded on video.

“Instead of providing him, transporting him to a local hospital, a local ER, a local ICU, they transport him, his unresponsive body, if not deceased body, to the station,” Gastelum said.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner’s entry for Bostic’s death states he died at a law enforcement agency. The cause of his death has been deferred, meaning more tests and lab work are required.

Gastelum said her clients paid for a second, private autopsy, which stated she believes excessive force was used when Bostic was arrested.

Last month, family members rallied at the scene of the arrest to demand more information from police about what happened.

Bryan Bostic died March 10 after being detained by officers, according to city officials. Macy Jenkins reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

Inglewood Mayor James Butts told NBCLA last month that while the incident arrest remains under investigation, he believes nothing sinister happened. He confirmed that officers used force to make the arrest, but said Bostic was checked out by the Los Angeles County Fire Department before he was driven to the police department.

“Paramedics came and examined him, cleared him to be taken to the station and booked,” he said. “When they got to the station and went to the back seat, they saw that he was unconscious and didn’t appear to be breathing.”

With the Medical Examiner’s case still open, it’s unclear exactly how or why Bostic died.

The legal claims that were filed Monday are the first step required before a lawsuit can be filed, which Gastelum said will happen in the next few weeks.

When sought for information regarding Bostic’s arrest, the Inglewood Police Department referred questions to the mayor’s office. The city said it does not have information to share at this time.