Earl McNeil, 40
National City, California
June 11, 2018
Agencies: National City Police Department California
Cause of death: Medical Neglect
Last updated: over 4 years ago
Overview 
McNeil's family members and activists say the 40-year-old mentally ill man, a paid informant for police, walked into a National City police station to get help around 5:30 a.m. on May 26. Instead of getting help, McNeil had a confrontation and multiple officers forcibly restrained him. McNeil died 16 days later at UCSD Medical Center's trauma center in Hillcrest. Activists believe McNeil fell into a coma while in police custody.
The DA's office said that McNeil called police four times May 26 to identify himself and say he was high. While outside a National City police station, McNeil can be heard in the video saying he wanted to kill people. In addition, officers say they heard McNeil say he was a pimp. Police found meth and a knife on him during the encounter.
McNeil's behavior grew more erratic, prompting multiple officers to hold him down. They then used a body wrap when McNeil allegedly began to spit on them. This is when officers placed a spit sock over his head. While being held down and in a spit sock, McNeil as heard screaming "I'm alive!," asking for help and saying officers were killing him. At one point, McNeil stated he could not breathe and was having a seizure.
With his face down, McNeil began to grind his teeth on the cement, police said. He began bleeding from his mouth and allegedly spat blood at an officer at one point.
Police opted to take McNeil to jail instead of the hospital, despite McNeil's numerous calls for help. While in the police car, officers say McNeil struck his head against the plexiglass window multiple times.
An ambulance report obtained by inewsource shows Earl McNeil, who died after being arrested by National City police, had a “shirt pulled over his face” in addition to a spit mask. His death has sparked protests demanding information about what happened and led federal authorities to investigate the incident.
The lawyer representing the family of Earl McNeil, who died after being arrested by National City police officers in May, has called for more information to be released about the man’s role as a paid law enforcement informant — a fact with unclear implications in his death.
Legal Action
On September 21, 2018, the San Diego County District Attorney's office announced Friday National City police officers were not criminally liable for the death of Earl McNeil and would not be charged.
Community and Family Efforts
September 2018 Justice reform activists have sent a letter to District Attorney Summer Stephan, calling on her to recuse herself from the investigation into the death of Earl McNeil.
September 2018 National City Man's Family Awaits Answers in Death Investigation
Additional Resources:
- https://theappeal.org/a-distressed-man-came-to-a-police-station-looking-for-help-hours-later-he-was-in-a-coma/ added September 23, 2018 18:30
- https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Family-of-Earl-McNeil-Holds-News-Conference-National-City-489653511.html added September 23, 2018 18:17
- https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california/National-City-Man-Death-Investigation-Earl-McNeil-San-Diego-County-493970051.html added September 23, 2018 18:17
- http://www.thecwsandiego.com/story/38894172/community-activists-call-for-da-recusal-in-earl-mcneil-death-case added September 23, 2018 18:17
- https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2018/09/21/earl-mcneil-death-custody-national-city-police-arrest/ added September 23, 2018 16:10
- http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/sd-me-mcneil-informant-20180725-story.html added September 23, 2018 16:10
- http://www.cbs8.com/story/38874731/new-details-on-earl-mcneils-death-following-arrest-by-national-city-police added September 23, 2018 16:10
- https://fox5sandiego.com/2018/09/21/da-opts-not-to-charge-officers-in-the-death-of-earl-mcneil/ added September 23, 2018 16:10